RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Tuesday reiterated that maintaining distance from electoral politics is the declared policy of his outfit.
Speaking on the second day of a three-day conclave organised by the RSS, Bhagwat asserted that the Sangh will definitely be away from electoral politics.
He also dismissed speculations that Nagpur controls the governments run by the BJP.
“ Those working there have better experience compared to us. We do advise them as they are RSS volunteers but it’s not binding. We believe that it’s wrong to have a power centre which is not in accordance with the constitutional system,” Bhagwat said.
The RSS chief also said that the Hindutva organisation never asks its volunteers to work for any particular party but does advise them to back those working in the national interest.
Bhagwat's comments sought to distinguish between its functioning and the work of the BJP, which is seen to be ideologically affiliated to the organisation with many top leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, having an RSS background.
Watch: RSS never asks volunteers to work for a particular party, says Mohan Bhagwat
He said there is a perception that the RSS plays a key role in the functioning of a particular party, a reference to the BJP, because of the presence of many of its workers in that organisation, but it is wrong.
"We never ask swayamsevak (volunteer) to work for a particular party, we do ask them to back those working in national interest. RSS keeps away from politics but has views on issues of national interest," Bhagwat said.
He said the Sangh believes the centre of power should remain as envisaged in the Constitution and that it considers it wrong if it is not so.
On the first day of the three-day conclave "Bhavishya Ka Bharat -- An RSS Perspective" on Monday, Bhagwat said the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) does not seek domination and is indifferent to who comes to power.
Bhagwat launched an unprecedented outreach in a bid to allay apprehensions about its ideology on Monday and had asserted that RSS is "most democratic" and not dictatorial.
(With agency inputs)
