Protests must be driven by national interest, says RSS chief Sunil Ambekar

File photo of RSS National Publicity Officer Sunil Ambekar. | Photo credit: SHASHI SHEKHAR KASHYAP

Everyone has the right to raise issues concerning the country through demonstrations, but such protests must be conducted with national interests in mind, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) National Publicity Officer Sunil Ambekar said on Saturday (October 31, 2026). He also urged people to remain vigilant against attempts by anti-national forces to exploit public demonstrations.

Mr. Ambekar was speaking to the media in Indore ahead of the three-day national meeting of the RSS scheduled to begin on Monday (November 2).

408 functionaries, including RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale, are expected to attend the meeting. Discussions are likely to cover organizational changes in the Sangh ahead of its election year, centenary programmes, drugs and other pressing issues in the country.

When asked if the Sangh was slow to connect with the younger generations, especially after the recent Gen-Z protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, Mr. Ambekar said people can raise questions or concerns about issues affecting the country. He added that the RSS should not be seen as taking sides on issues raised by citizens.

“If someone raises a question about the land, that’s fine. They have the right to do that,” he said.

Referring to RSS chief Vijayadasami’s speech in which he spoke about the need to guard against agitation that could divide the society, Mr. Ambekar said protests should serve the interests of the country and contribute to its progress.

National interest in mind

“Protests taking place in the country must be conducted with national interests in mind. They should aim to move the nation forward. Therefore, everyone must remain vigilant to ensure that forces working against national interests do not infiltrate the demonstrations and misuse them for their own ends,” he said.

Mr. Ambekar added that the RSS is aware of these concerns and will continue to pay attention to them.

On the controversy surrounding the University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations, Mr Ambekar said the RSS had already described the circular as “unbalanced”.

On the line of UGC regulations

He said the government and the UGC have taken cognizance of the concerns raised about the regulations, while the court has also stayed their implementation. The case is currently in court.

“Our position is that whatever happens further on this issue should be balanced and the government must ensure that,” Mr. Ambekar said. He added that a single circular should not be allowed to disrupt social harmony and stressed the need to keep the society united.

Controversy over the UGC Justice Regulations 2026 centers on their definition of discrimination on the basis of caste. The provisions apply to students from Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST) and Other Backward Classes (OBC) but do not provide equal protection to students from the general category.

Referring to the recent visits of Mr. Bhagwat and Mr. Hosabale to foreign countries, he said that the RSS was considering expanding its global reach and a plan in this regard would be discussed at the Indore meeting.

Published – 31 Oct 2026 21:24 IST