Mohan Bhagwat's remarks during the centenary lecture series focused on defending the RSS's distinct identity.
AAP MP Sanjay Singh: RSS and BJP Are One, Slams Mohan Bhagwat’s Remarks
On Monday, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Sanjay Singh criticised the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) following remarks made by its chief, Mohan Bhagwat, who stated, “There is no difference between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the RSS.” His comments were a response to Bhagwat’s speech at the RSS’s ‘100 Vyakhyan Mala’ programme in Kolkata, where the Sangh chief cautioned against viewing the RSS through a political lens and said equating the organisation with another service body or judging it completely by its association with the BJP would be a “huge mistake”.
Sanjay Singh addressed the media and asserted that the RSS has long functioned both as an independent cultural organisation and a political shield for the BJP. He argued that the Sangh “created the BJP” and that members of the RSS consistently identify themselves as part of the BJP. He said there has never been a moment when the RSS has publicly criticised the BJP, even on major issues such as alleged corruption or misuse of power.
Singh questioned the neutrality of the RSS and challenged its claims of independence from political influence and highlighted what he described as continuous support for the BJP, including shielding it from criticism and backing its electoral efforts. He said that the organisation has repeatedly engaged in actions that benefit the BJP politically, such as allegedly breaking up opposition parties and supporting controversial decisions without dissent.
Mohan Bhagwat’s remarks during the centenary lecture series focused on defending the RSS’s distinct identity. He highlighted that the RSS should not be stereotyped or reduced to a political appendage of the BJP and warned that interpreting the Sangh’s social and cultural work through a political frame could lead to misunderstandings.
The exchange is a part of ongoing debates in Indian political discourse over the relationship between the RSS and the BJP, with opposition leaders like Singh pressing for a sharper distinction and critics asserting the organisations are deeply intertwined. The conversation unfolds against the backdrop of the RSS’s centenary celebrations and broader discussions about the role of ideological organisations in India’s political ecosystem.
Source: Hindustan Times
