Bengaluru: Responding to a question about the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)’s legal authenticity and whether it remains unregistered voluntarily or to avoid legal obligations, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said that many things exist without registration, and even Hinduism is unregistered.
He made this statement during a question-and-answer session on the second day of the ‘100 Years of Sangh Journey: New Horizons’ program held in Bengaluru on Sunday. Bhagwat said, “This question has been answered many times. Those who want to raise such questions keep repeating them, and we have to keep answering them. This is not the first time this issue has been raised.”
‘Registration is not mandatory under the laws of independent India’
He asked, “The Sangh was started in 1925. Do you expect us to register with the British government—the same government against which our Sarsanghchalak was fighting?” He explained that registration is not mandatory under the laws of independent India after independence. He emphasized, “Even unregistered individuals’ organizations have been given legal status. We are placed in this category and are a recognized organization.” ‘We were banned three times’
Bhagwat further said, “The Income Tax Department once asked us to pay income tax and a case was also filed. The court ruled that we are a group of individuals and our guru dakshina (donation) is exempt from income tax.” He added, “We were banned three times, which means the government recognizes us. If we did not exist, then whom did they ban? Each time the courts lifted the ban and emphasized that the RSS is a legal organization.”
‘We don’t need registration’
Bhagwat clarified, “Questions are often raised in the Legislative Assembly and Parliament, and statements are made in favor and against the RSS. All of this points to recognition. Legally and factually, we are an organization. We are not unconstitutional—we operate within the ambit of the Constitution. Therefore, we don’t need registration.”
Unifying Hindu Society: Aim
He reiterated that many things exist without registration. Even Hinduism is not registered. Responding to a question about the RSS’s vision for the next two decades, Bhagwat said, “We want to unite and organize the entire Hindu society, impart quality and discipline, so that it can build a prosperous and strong India—a nation that can share the knowledge of religion with the world, making it happy, joyful, and peaceful.”
The RSS chief said that we are preparing Hindu society for this purpose. This is our sole goal. Once we achieve this goal, there will be nothing left for us to do.” It is our task to organize the entire Hindu society, and we will accomplish it. “We will do whatever is necessary to organize society. Our mission is to build an organized and empowered Hindu society,” Bhagwat concluded.
