Sunil Ambekar, Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh of the RSS, gestures during an interview in New Delhi on March 20, 2026. | Photo credit: Shashi Shekhar Kashyap
“Even Muslim-majority countries do not allow prayers on roads and have reserved places for worship,” Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) national publicity officer Sunil Ambekar told The Hindu in an interview.
Mr. Ambekar made the statement while responding to questions on how incidents in BJP-ruled states — such as FIRs over namaz on roads, iftar on a boat in the Ganges or Char Dham temples asking for “Sanatani” affidavits — are affecting the RSS’ message of unity in diversity.
“When the government restricts namaz on roads, it should be seen as a law and order decision, not a religious restriction,” he said. On the issue of the temple, he added: “Arrangements at places of worship are made for those who follow that religion. In a democracy, if people feel that these arrangements are not right, they can express their opinion. We have the media to raise their voice.”
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Asked whether the Sangh saw any ideological conflict with the appointment of Nitin Nabin as the BJP chief, given his lack of prior association with the RSS or its affiliates, Mr. Ambekar said that Mr. Nabin had worked in the BJP for years and that the party was able to convey the core ideology of the organization.
Regarding the ongoing conflict in West Asia, he said it was time for opposition parties to support the government and prioritize national interests over political ambitions. “War should be fought for the truth and welfare of the people, not for personal or selfish interests, and I truly feel that India is on the right track,” he said.
Mr. Ambekar addressed the concerns regarding demographic change and population imbalance and linked them with historical lessons. “Some people understand that even if their worship practices change, they still share the same ancestry and history. But a section believed that because their traditions were changed, the land no longer belonged to them. This contributed to the partition of India – a phenomenon that can be seen elsewhere such as Lebanon,” he said.
He added that the RSS was working on the ground to promote awareness of shared origin and national unity as highlighted by Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat. “It is a long-term process. In the meantime, it is crucial that those who do not understand do not damage the unity and integrity of the country,” he said.
Mr. Ambekar advocated measures like Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC), Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC) as constitutional processes aimed at protecting national interests. “Illegal entrants face legal action and the system allows review and redress for anyone who has been wrongfully excluded,” he said.
Asked about the Sangh’s views on youth-led protests in neighboring countries like Nepal and Bangladesh and how India had not faced similar situations, Mr. Ambekar said democracy allowed them to protest.
“Indian youth are highly ambitious. They aim to take the country forward and feel that the government is working in their interest. They respect the constitution and act within it to contribute to national development,” Mr. Ambekar said. He said Indian youth took to the streets during the struggle for freedom, emergency and against corruption and atrocities on women in 2010.
On the expansion of the RSS, which will complete 100 years in 2025, Mr. Ambekar said his network of shakhas now conducts around 88,000 daily sessions involving several thousand participants. A new divisional level was introduced to decentralize the organizational structure and extend the reach to villages, tehsils and mandals across India.
“Our vision remains consistent: promoting unity, national development and security, guided by the principles on which the Sangh was founded a century ago,” he said.
Published – 22 March 2026 18:04 IST
