RSS is recognised as body of individuals, Bhagwat tells critics

Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat made a veiled statement against Congress leaders who criticized the RSS for operating unregistered on Sunday, November 9, 2025, saying that his organization is known as a group of individuals.

“RSS was founded in 1925, so do you expect us to be registered with the British government?” Mr. Bhagwat asked while answering a question during an in-house question-answer session organized by RSS.

He added that after independence, the Government of India did not impose registration requirements.

“We are categorized as a group of individuals and we are a recognized organization,” Mr. Bhagwat explained.

According to him, the Income Tax department and the courts described the RSS as an organization made up of individuals and the organization was exempt from income tax.

“We were banned three times. So the state recognized us. If we weren’t there, who would they ban?” the RSS chief asked.

Mr. Bhagwat added that there are many things that are not registered. “Even Hindu Dharma is not registered,” he said.

On the issue of RSS respecting only saffron flags and not recognizing Indian tricolour, Mr. Bhagwat said that although saffron is considered a Guru in RSS, Indian tricolor is highly respected.

“We always respect, pay tribute and protect our tricolour,” the RSS chief said.

Mr. Bhagwat’s remarks came after Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge had recently said that the RSS should be banned.

His son and Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge demanded a ban on RSS activities in government institutions and public places. He even questioned the RSS’s registration number and funding sources.