Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday dismissed allegations that Sangh controls the central government, saying that the organisation doesn’t engage in backseat driving and that the regime is run by those in power.
“We do not engage in backseat driving. The government is run by those who are in the government,” he said.
The RSS chief made the remarks while speaking on the second day of the Mumbai Vyakhyanmala lecture series, organised as part of the “100 Years of Sangh Journey.
However, the RSS chief expressed the organisation’s commitment to national service and its willingness to join government efforts.
He also revealed that when he turned 75, he had expressed desire to step down but RSS workers insisted he should continue.
“As far as I am concerned, when my 75 years were completed, I told the workers, but they said, “What has happened to you? You are roaming around, do the work…” I am here; this is not my wish. If I am not here; this is also not my option; this is the option of the Sangh,” he said.
Bhagwat further stated that his work will continue even after retirement. “The work of the Sangh continues throughout life…,” he added.
He also called for global unity among Hindus while referring to alleged atrocities against the minority community in Bangladesh.
Earlier on Saturday, Bhagwat had said that while Pakistan became a Muslim nation after partition in 1947, India remained a secular country because of Hindus.
Speaking at the two-day New Horizons lecture series marking the RSS Centenary Year, Bhagwat said that it was due to India’s Hindu nature that the country adopted a constitution.
“India has a constitution. It was created because of the Indian mindset… The country was divided into separate parts for Muslims and Hindus. But the newly separated Pakistan declared itself a Muslim nation. Pakistan broke up, Bangladesh was formed, and even that ultimately became a Muslim nation. We declared ourselves a nation for all, because we are Hindus.”