RSS Not a Registered Hindu Body, Claims Mohan Bhagwat While Defending Legal Status & Tax Benefits

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday defended the organisation's unregistered status, saying its existence and recognition do not depend on formal registration.

"Many things are not registered. Even Hindu dharma is not registered," Bhagwat said, responding to questions during an interaction in Bengaluru on November 9.

Bhagwat on RSS Legitimacy and Recognition

Explaining the legal and historical position of the RSS, Bhagwat pointed out that the government has already recognised the organisation by banning it on three occasions. "If we were not there, whom did they ban?" he asked, referring to the times the RSS was proscribed since its establishment in 1925. He further questioned whether it would have been appropriate to register the RSS under the British government when it was formed.

After India's Independence, Bhagwat said, "The government did not make it compulsory to register," adding that the organisation has continued its work within the framework of law for nearly a century.

Defence of RSS Tax Exemption

Addressing concerns about the RSS's financial structure, Bhagwat stated that the income tax department and courts have examined the matter and found no violations. "The income tax department and courts have noted that RSS is a body of individuals," he said, adding that this classification exempts the organisation from tax.

The RSS, which acts as the ideological parent of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has long been accused by its critics of wielding political influence without formal accountability. The Congress government in Karnataka, in particular, has tightened restrictions on the group's use of public spaces, with minister Priyank Kharge describing it as a "communal" organisation.

RSS and the Idea of Hindu Rashtra

A day before the Bengaluru interaction, Bhagwat delivered a lecture titled "100 Years of Sangh Journey: New Horizons", where he elaborated on the RSS's core philosophy and long-term vision. "When an organised force is raised in the form of Sangh, it doesn't want power. It doesn't want prominence in the society. It just wants to serve, organise the society for the glory of Bharat Mata," he said.

He reiterated that the organisation seeks to strengthen Hindu society not for political dominance but for the nation's cultural unity. "Sanatan Dharma is Hindu Rashtra and the progress of Sanatan Dharma is the progress of Bharat," he asserted.

"Hindus Are Responsible for Bharat"

Bhagwat expanded on the RSS's definition of "Hindu," arguing that it encompasses all Indians regardless of religion. "There is no Ahindu (non-Hindu) in India," he said, explaining that Muslims, Christians, and others are descendants of the same ancestors and share the country's core culture. "Hindus are responsible for Bharat," he added, emphasising the need for unity among all citizens.

The RSS Journey and Its Challenges

Reflecting on the movement's century-long journey, Bhagwat acknowledged that the organisation's growth has not been easy. "There were two bans; a third as well, but it was not much of a ban. There was opposition, criticism. Swayamsevaks were murdered. In every way, it was tried that we should not thrive," he recalled.

Despite the challenges, he credited RSS volunteers for their dedication. "Swayamsevaks give their all to the Sangh and don't want anything in return," he said, asserting that the RSS is "not in opposition to anything," but an organisation "of the society, not in the society."

Bhagwat concluded by underlining the organisation's future goal: "We want to organise the Hindu society, the whole of the Hindu society - all 142 crore people with so many religious denominations. And some of them came from outside during the course of history." He added that the Sangh has begun engaging in dialogue with those who do not identify as Hindus, in an effort to foster broader social unity.