PTI file photo NEW DELHI: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Friday said that Sangh needed to train, but it wasn’t a paramilitary organisation.”We wear a uniform, take out marches, and do stick exercise. (But) If someone thinks it is a paramilitary organisation, it will be a mistake,” he said, adding that the organisation only imbued necessary qualities and virtues to ensure that India didn’t not fall into the clutches of a foreign power again.According to him, small groups of invaders from distant lands whom he described as neither wealthier nor more virtuous than Indians, had managed to defeat the country despite being unfamiliar with its terrain and society. Bhagat said this had happened several times in the past, with the British being the eighth such invasion.When he said Sangh was faster than armyNotably, the RSS chief has previously said that the organisation had the ability to prepare an “army” to fight for the country within three days, if such a situation arises.Speaking in Bihar in 2018, he had said, “Sangh will prepare military personnel within three days which the Army would do in 6-7 months. This is our capability. Swayamsewak will be ready to take on the front if the country faces such a situation and Constitution permits to do so.”The statement caused an uproar with the opposition asking Bhagwat to apologise for comparing the RSS with the army.Congress president Rahul Gandhi said, “The RSS chief ’s speech is an insult to every Indian, because it disrespects those who have died for our nation. It is an insult to our flag because it insults every soldier who ever saluted it.”BJP not RSS offshootBhagwat on Friday reiterarted that it would be a mistake to try to understand the RSS through the prism of the BJP. While the Sangh is widely regarded as the parent organisation of the Jana Sangh and its successor, the BJP, he said its identity and purpose were often wrongly interpreted.”There is a common feeling that the Sangh was born as a reaction or opposition (to the prevailing forces). This is not the case. The Sangh is not a reaction or opposition to anything. The Sangh is not competing with anyone as well,” the RSS chief said.The BJP’s roots lie in the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, founded in 1951 by RSS leader Syama Prasad Mukherjee. The Jana Sangh and later the BJP drew heavily from the Sangh’s worldview, with many of its leaders emerging from the RSS ecosystem and sharing its Hindu nationalist orientation.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosShankh Air Founder Speaks Out As Airline Eyes March Launch, Targets Intl Flights By 2029’Their Islamist Ideas…’: Ex-Bangladesh Minister Hits Out Over Attacks on Hindus And Christians’Very Petty & Shameful’: Shashi Tharoor On Row Over KKR Selecting Bangladeshi Player In IPLINLD President Calls For Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal Type Uprising In India Politics, Triggers RowBJP Claims Rahul Gandhi Ties To ‘Anti-India’ Panel Over US Lawmakers’ Umar Khalid LetterNot All Are Illiterate: Rajnath Singh Cites Red Fort Blast, Flags Educated, White Collar Terrorists’Arunachal Pradesh Is And Will Always Be…’ Jaishankar Warns China, Blasts Harassment Of IndiansBullet Train Gets August 15, 2027 India Launch Date, Minister Shares Details On Tunnel BreakthroughCleanest City Hit By Water Contamination As Lab Links Indore Diarrhoea Outbreak To Pipeline LeakUS Lawmaker Raja Krishnamoorthi Condemns Violence Against Hindus In Bangladesh Urges Global Action Up123PhotostoriesHow to make Andhra-Style protein-rich Green Moong Dosa for breakfastWhich Color to Wear on Full Moon Based on Your Birth Date?6 stunning flowering succulents that will transform your balconyWhy your fish keeps dying: 5 mistakes most aquarium owners make without realising7 foods to combine with sweet potato for a wholesome breakfastOlder people who live happily, do these 10 things in their 30 and 40s8 winter pickles to add warmth and taste to your mealsLessons from centenarians: What the world’s longest-living people eat‘Shark Tank India Season 5’: FULL LIST of judges, their net worth, and the brands they ownKylie Jenner-Timothée Chalamet to complete 3 years of dating in 2026: 3 relationship lessons to learn from them123Hot PicksPremarital Test OmanVande Bharat Sleeper TrainJanuary Bank holidayGold rate todayIncome Tax RefundBahrain Golden Visa 2025Bank Holidays DecemberTop TrendingSan Francisco 49ersBrittany MahomesNoah Lyles and Junelle Bromfield Net WorthWayne Gretzky Daughter Net WorthSidney Crosby LifestyleLeBron James vs Stephen Curry Net WorthTom BradyLeBron James WifeCam ThomasCharlie Kirk
NEW DELHI: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Friday said that Sangh needed to train, but it wasn’t a paramilitary organisation.“We wear a uniform, take out marches, and do stick exercise. (But) If someone thinks it is a paramilitary organisation, it will be a mistake,” he said, adding that the organisation only imbued necessary qualities and virtues to ensure that India didn’t not fall into the clutches of a foreign power again.According to him, small groups of invaders from distant lands whom he described as neither wealthier nor more virtuous than Indians, had managed to defeat the country despite being unfamiliar with its terrain and society. Bhagat said this had happened several times in the past, with the British being the eighth such invasion.
When he said Sangh was faster than army
Notably, the RSS chief has previously said that the organisation had the ability to prepare an “army” to fight for the country within three days, if such a situation arises.Speaking in Bihar in 2018, he had said, “Sangh will prepare military personnel within three days which the Army would do in 6-7 months. This is our capability. Swayamsewak will be ready to take on the front if the country faces such a situation and Constitution permits to do so.”The statement caused an uproar with the opposition asking Bhagwat to apologise for comparing the RSS with the army.Congress president Rahul Gandhi said, “The RSS chief ’s speech is an insult to every Indian, because it disrespects those who have died for our nation. It is an insult to our flag because it insults every soldier who ever saluted it.”
BJP not RSS offshoot
Bhagwat on Friday reiterarted that it would be a mistake to try to understand the RSS through the prism of the BJP. While the Sangh is widely regarded as the parent organisation of the Jana Sangh and its successor, the BJP, he said its identity and purpose were often wrongly interpreted.“There is a common feeling that the Sangh was born as a reaction or opposition (to the prevailing forces). This is not the case. The Sangh is not a reaction or opposition to anything. The Sangh is not competing with anyone as well,” the RSS chief said.The BJP’s roots lie in the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, founded in 1951 by RSS leader Syama Prasad Mukherjee. The Jana Sangh and later the BJP drew heavily from the Sangh’s worldview, with many of its leaders emerging from the RSS ecosystem and sharing its Hindu nationalist orientation.
