RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday issued a blunt warning on the violence targeting Hindus in Bangladesh, saying the community would receive global Hindu support if it chose to stay back and fight for its rights, amid a surge in attacks on minorities.
Speaking at an RSS centenary lecture in Mumbai, Bhagwat said, “There are about 1.25 crore Hindus in Bangladesh. If they decide to stay there and fight, all Hindus across the world will help them.”
He was addressing the second day of the two-day Vyakhyanmala, titled ‘100 Years of Sangh Journey: New Horizons’, organised to mark 100 years of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh at the Nehru Centre in Worli.
Bangladesh has seen escalating mob violence against minorities, particularly Hindus, in recent months following the death of anti-India radical student leader Sharif Osman Hadi. The situation deteriorated further after nationwide protests linked to the ouster of exiled Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, which followed the student-led agitation known as the ‘July Uprising’ on August 5, 2024.
Several Hindu citizens, including businessmen, labourers and students, have been killed in attacks that unfolded during street protests and later morphed into organised assaults on minority neighbourhoods across the country.
On domestic issues, Bhagwat said successive governments had failed to respond adequately to demographic shifts. “The government earlier did not do enough on population changes. Birth rate and illegal immigration are reasons. Now that the government has started acting, it will be successful,” he said.
Also read: RSS not against anyone: Mohan Bhagwat
He asserted that attempts to weaken the country would no longer succeed. “India cannot be broken now. Those who try to break India will be broken,” Bhagwat said.
Responding to questions on funding, Bhagwat said the RSS did not depend on corporate or institutional money. “People are curious about RSS funds. We raise funds from our workers. When we travel, we ask for tiffin instead of buying food. We stay in the homes of workers, not in hotels,” he said.
On leadership and caste, he said the organisation drew no distinctions. “Anyone from any caste can become RSS chief. SC-ST is no disqualification and Brahmin is no qualification. We work for all castes, though RSS initially started with Brahmins,” Bhagwat said.
Referring to work in Muslim-dominated areas, Bhagwat said the Sangh avoided confrontation. “Challenges in Muslim areas are handled by not responding. They may use cuss words, but we don't respond. That way conflict does not increase,” he said.
On Saturday, the opening day of the lecture series, Bhagwat said the RSS was not “against anyone” and did not seek political power. “The Sangh is not against anyone. It does not want power. Its objective is only to unite society,” he said.
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