Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Tuesday said attempts to weaken or “dismantle” India would not succeed, asserting that a change in government does not necessarily alter the country’s circumstances.
Speaking at the RSS’s Vijayadashami Utsav in Nagpur, Bhagwat said India’s progress had made it a target for forces seeking to disrupt its development. He also cautioned against protests driven by political interests, arguing that such demonstrations could fuel tensions and disturb public order rather than resolve underlying problems.
“India is their main target because India is progressing,” Bhagwat said, adding that forces opposed to the country were attempting to undermine both India and the Sangh.
He maintained that public grievances should be addressed through efforts within society, rather than through agitation. According to him, politically motivated protests could create an atmosphere of unrest and anarchy.
Bhagwat also urged people to remain alert to what he described as attempts to divert India from its path towards becoming a developed nation. Referring to developments in other countries, he cited France, Bangladesh and Nepal as examples of how public protests can lead to political and social upheaval.
Nepal witnessed widespread youth-led protests in September 2025 that led to the fall of KP Sharma Oli’s government. In Bangladesh, student-led demonstrations expanded into a broader movement, resulting in the ouster of Sheikh Hasina’s government in August 2024. France, meanwhile, has experienced protests over government policies and wider public concerns, including the cost of living and public services.
Bhagwat said some people in India appeared to share the objectives of forces seeking to destabilise the country. He called on society to exercise caution and work towards resolving its problems from within.
Remarks Amid Row Over Electoral Roll Revision
The RSS chief’s comments come amid protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Senior Supreme Court lawyer Prashant Bhushan recently described the protests in Delhi as a struggle that could eventually lead to a change of regime if alleged electoral irregularities and the treatment of protesters continued. His remarks triggered a political exchange, with BJP leaders accusing sections of the opposition of using the demonstrations to pursue a broader political agenda.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh criticised what he described as attempts to use young people to create political unrest. BJP national spokesperson CR Kesavan also questioned the intentions behind the protests, alleging that concerns over electoral rolls were being used as a pretext to target the government.
Bhagwat’s remarks on political agitation came against this backdrop, with the RSS chief emphasising that protests alone were not a solution to social and political problems.
Calls for a Development Model That Protects the Environment
Beyond the political situation, Bhagwat stressed the need for India to develop a model of progress that balances scientific and technological advancement with environmental protection and ethical considerations.
He said India should establish its own standards for development, ensuring that economic growth does not come at the expense of humanity or the environment. He also underlined the importance of respecting the country’s diversity, including differences in religion, language and food habits.
Referring to recent floods in Nepal, Bhagwat highlighted the risks of development that does not adequately account for ecological concerns. He also pointed to the challenges facing the Himalayan region, which spans India, Nepal and China, saying that development activities in the area must be carefully assessed.
Bhagwat described the loss of lives in the region as a reminder of the need to strike a balance between infrastructure growth and public safety.
“ We have to balance between development and ensuring that the price of development does not mean people dying,” he said, stressing that progress should not result in preventable human casualties.
His address combined a warning against what he described as attempts to destabilise India with a call for a development approach that protects the environment, respects social diversity and places human welfare at its centre.
This article was prepared with AI assistance and is based on information available in the public domain.
