Mohan Bhagwat warns against divisive agitation, urges unity rooted in 'Hindu spirit'

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Tuesday (October 20, 2026) warned against politically motivated agitations and social division. “It is a misconception that problems are solved only through agitation,” he said, warning that domestic unrest could be exploited by international forces seeking to weaken India.

In his annual Vijayadasami address, which is also the foundation day of the RSS, Mr. Bhagwat said protests were a natural consequence of social problems and administrative inadequacies, but stressed that agitations should focus on finding solutions rather than deepening enmity or creating divisions in society.

“Whether it is a section of society staging a protest, the government and administration taking steps to maintain peace and order, or political leaders responding to the situation, our actions must not create discord, enmity, resentment or discord in our united society,” the RSS chief said.

He cautioned the people that even when their emotions run high, they must ensure that their actions remain within the bounds of the Constitution and the law and the standards of civility and decency that should guide speech, behavior and conduct, even during protests.

“We must remain vigilant to ensure that the temptation of electoral gains, cheap popularity or political advantage does not overpower our judgment and goodwill,” Mr. Bhagwat said, adding, “Also, we have no experience that only the government can solve all the problems of society, or that problems can only be solved by agitation. Problems can also be solved by society’s activity and mutual dialogue,” he said.

He states that when the protest became a political tool driven by hostility towards a person, group or ideology, the forces trying to keep India under control took advantage of the situation.

“Their modus operandi is to deepen differences and create differences among people, promote a sense of victimhood in response to problems and undermine public faith in the country’s institutions. This creates an atmosphere of conflict, intense discontent, alienation, disorder and chaos. The global powers that seek to keep India in the doldrums also sometimes advance their own agendas through such developments,” Mr Bhagwat said.

The RSS chief’s statement comes at a time when India is witnessing both political and youth protests demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar amid allegations of irregularities in the ongoing special intensive electoral roll revision process.

In July, youth-led protests at Jantar Mantar, born out of anger over leaked exam papers, made headlines with allegations of excessive use of force against protesters by security personnel and led to the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Commenting on the recent debate about “regime change” in the wake of the recent protests, Mr Bhagwat said there was a storm coming from the West that was against “every kind of order, every form of civility, everything auspicious and all cultural and human values”. “He wants to destroy, corrupt and devastate all these things,” he said.

Referring to recent protests in various countries, he said: “Even developed countries are troubled by this. Just listen to the news coming in the last few days. What is happening in France? What is happening in Albania? What happened in Bangladesh? What happened in Nepal? All these events were engineered and organized by them. They say that regime change today will not change the situation, and in the past, it never happened.”

“global forces”

Citing recent tensions in France and past cases in Nepal and Bangladesh, Mr Bhagwat argued that powerful forces were trying to widen social divides and also weaken India as it expanded its global influence.

“Driven by its policies, leadership, national self-confidence and growing awareness of its international responsibilities, India’s progress has made it an important competitor on the world stage,” the RSS chief said.

Forces opposed to India’s rise could exploit domestic grievances to support individuals or groups whose actions contribute to instability, he said.

Stating that the current generation needs proper guidance, Mr. Bhagwat said the values that were once imparted by the elders in families, schools and society are fading away.

Seeking curbs on OTT platforms, he said social media was feeding unfiltered information to young people who often couldn’t tell right from wrong. Several countries have imposed restrictions on these platforms after suffering the consequences.

“India also feels the need, especially for OTT platforms, and the government should consider this. But young people also need to learn discernment because its absence is damaging personal, family and social life and driving youth around the world to drug addiction,” he said, adding, “Parents must pass on this discernment, youth must shun addictive habits and swayamsevaks will work for nationwide resistance to drug abuse.”

Talking about the Vande Mataram controversy, he said that the national song was a symbol of unity and patriotism during the anti-partition movement of Bengal and that even today it inspires national unity. There should be “no hesitation or objection to singing it in full, with pride and a loud, clear voice”, Mr Bhagwat said.

Concluding, Mr. Bhagwat said that India’s ambition to become a “Vishwaguru” (guide to the world) will depend on the behavior and contribution of its citizens. He argued that national progress required a society capable of preserving unity while accommodating diversity and called for balanced development, social responsibility, discipline and mutual respect.

Published – 20 Oct 2026 09:59 IST