Key Facts
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat has dismissed Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge's open letter demanding registration and transparency, stating that Hindu Dharma itself is not registered and the issue is political.
The exchange comes as the RSS completes 100 years of its existence, with Kharge urging the organisation to use its centenary for constitutional reflection.
Bhagwat's Response: 'Hindu Dharma Not Registered'
Speaking to news agency ANI, Bhagwat said, “I don't need to respond. There are so many unregistered things going on, and we are not secretive. We are working in the open. We are calling people and telling them about the Sangh. This is politics, and all these gimmicks are being tried. We are used to it.”
He further argued that many institutions and traditions exist without formal registration. “Hindu Dharma is not registered. Many things are not registered... The government banned us twice, and those bans were lifted once by court order and again through Satyagraha. So the government knows the RSS exists. If they banned the RSS, it means they recognised its existence,” Bhagwat said.
Rejecting Secrecy Allegations
Bhagwat also refuted claims that the RSS functions secretly. “They say we are secretive. Our karyakartas live in all localities. People see them every day. Our shakhas are held in open grounds. People see them daily. We have public programmes,” he stated.
He added that the demand is politically motivated: “All this is politics, nothing serious. They want, on one hand, to hamper the Sangh's work and, on the other, create doubts in the minds of people. But that is no longer possible because people know us.”
Priyank Kharge's Open Letter
Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge wrote to Bhagwat as the RSS marked its centenary, seeking clarification on its organisational status. In his letter posted on X, Kharge said an organisation claiming over 60,000 shakhas and crores of swayamsevaks should uphold transparency and constitutional compliance.
“The best tribute it can pay to India in its 100th year is to register itself, disclose its activities and finances, pay all applicable taxes, and function as a transparent and accountable organisation within the framework of Indian law,” Kharge wrote.
He also cited the 2025-26 Karnataka report of the Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha, noting that the RSS operates 4,127 daily shakhas, 1,389 weekly milans, and 60 monthly mandalis in Karnataka alone.
Political Reactions
The BJP has slammed Congress leaders for their criticism of the RSS, while the Congress maintains that the organisation should operate with transparency. The debate has intensified as the RSS approaches its centenary year.
What Readers Should Know
- The RSS has been banned twice in India — once in 1948 after Mahatma Gandhi's assassination and again during the Emergency in 1975. Both bans were lifted.
- The organisation is not registered under any specific law, though it functions as a socio-cultural organisation.
- Priyank Kharge is the son of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and serves as Karnataka's Home Minister.
FAQ
Why did Priyank Kharge write to RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat?
Priyank Kharge, Karnataka's Home Minister, wrote an open letter to RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat urging the organisation to register itself, disclose its finances, and function transparently as it completes 100 years.
What was Mohan Bhagwat's response to the demand for RSS registration?
Bhagwat dismissed the demand as political gimmickry, arguing that Hindu Dharma itself is not registered and that the RSS operates openly with shakhas held in public grounds.
Does the RSS have any legal recognition?
Bhagwat noted that the government has banned the RSS twice in the past, and those bans were lifted by court order and Satyagraha, implying the government recognises its existence.
What did Priyank Kharge say about RSS's centenary?
Kharge said the best tribute to India in its 100th year would be for the RSS to register, disclose activities and finances, pay taxes, and function as a transparent organisation within Indian law.