RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat Affirms Muslims Integral to India’s Cultural Identity

[abdul]

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat has recently addressed concerns about the organization’s position on India’s Muslim community, making a series of statements that emphasize inclusion, cultural unity, and religious coexistence.

Speaking at a gathering during the Sangh’s centenary year celebrations, Bhagwat highlighted that India’s cultural identity belongs to all its citizens, regardless of faith. He stressed that Hindu thought does not reject the existence of Islam and firmly rejected the idea that the RSS supports hostility towards any community. According to him, religion is a matter of personal choice and must never be imposed through force or coercion.

On the subject of temples and religious movements, Bhagwat made it clear that the RSS as an institution is only linked to the Ram Temple cause. While volunteers are free to participate in campaigns concerning other sites such as Kashi or Mathura, the Sangh itself will not take part. He further cautioned against a tendency to look for religious symbols in every place, warning that such actions may lead to unnecessary conflicts.

Addressing India’s demographic future, Bhagwat also called upon families across all religions to maintain balance in population growth. He suggested that families could responsibly consider having up to three children to counter declining fertility rates, while ensuring that growth remains sustainable.

The overall message from his speech was one of reassurance: Muslims, Hindus, and followers of every other faith form part of the same cultural fabric of India. Bhagwat pointed out that the RSS is focused on fostering brotherhood and collective progress, not division.

Bhagwat’s comments come at a time when discussions around religious identity and inter-community trust remain central to India’s social and political climate. By positioning the RSS as an organization that does not endorse aggression or exclusion, he sought to underline that the future of the nation lies in mutual respect and peaceful coexistence among all communities.