RSS Chief’s Remark Equating the Organisation with Hinduism Draws Sharp Criticism from Religious Thinker
Swami Raghvendra accuses Mohan Bhagwat and the RSS of distorting Hindu philosophy for political gain, calling their comparison with religion “absurd and offensive.”
Bengaluru, India: Swami Raghvendra, the national convener of Satya Dharma Samvad, has strongly criticised Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat for drawing a parallel between the RSS and Hinduism in response to questions about the organisation’s registration status. In a sharply worded statement, he called the remark “not only laughable but also deeply revealing” of the RSS’s “flawed understanding” of Hinduism.
“By equating the RSS with Hinduism, Bhagwat has exposed his limited view of the faith — as though it were an NGO or a cultural association,” said Swami Raghvendra. “Hinduism is not a registered institution. It is an eternal tradition of faith, practice, and collective well-being — not a political or social club.”
“ಆರ್ಎಸ್ಎಸ್ ಹಿಂದು ಧರ್ಮವಲ್ಲ” — ಸ್ವಾಮಿ ರಾಘವೇಂದ್ರರಿಂದ ಭಾಗವತ್ ಹೇಳಿಕೆಗೆ ತೀವ್ರ ಪ್ರತಿಕ್ರಿಯೆ
“A Political Organisation Cannot Be a Religion”
The religious scholar reminded that the RSS, which has been banned multiple times in India, cannot claim equivalence with a religion.
“To compare an organisation with political motives to a faith that represents timeless truth and universal principles is not only wrong but insulting,” he said.
He further questioned, “If Bhagwat now claims equivalence with Hinduism, does that mean every Hindu must become a member of the RSS?”
Raghvendra argued that Bhagwat’s statement is an “attack on the faith and devotion of millions of Hindus” and urged believers to reflect on whether such an organisation truly embodies their spiritual traditions.
“हिटलर के अनुयायी धर्म नहीं बना सकते” — आरएसएस और हिन्दू धर्म की तुलना पर स्वामी राघवेन्द्र का प्रहार
“When RSS Leaders Defend Beef-Eating, How Can They Represent Hinduism?”
Citing a controversial remark by senior RSS functionary Manmohan Vaidya in Arunachal Pradesh, Raghvendra recalled that Vaidya had publicly said “around 30,000 RSS volunteers eat beef.”
“Can such an organisation, with members openly admitting to eating beef, compare itself to Hindu Dharma?” he asked. “Those who exploit cow protection sentiments in North India for political advantage must answer this hypocrisy.”
He added that the RSS leadership’s views on revered figures like Lord Rama and Lord Krishna further reveal their distorted understanding of Hindu devotion. “For them, Rama and Krishna are not divine incarnations but merely historical or political figures,” Raghvendra said. “Their ideology reduces faith to propaganda.”
“RSS Follows Half-Chicken Logic — Taking Benefit, Rejecting Duty”
Invoking the metaphor of Ardha-Kukkuti Nyaya (the “half-chicken logic”) — a classical example from Indian philosophy of self-defeating reasoning — Swami Raghvendra explained how the RSS uses religion selectively for political gain.
“Like a man who cuts off the front half of his hen thinking only the back half lays eggs, the RSS seeks to take advantage of religion’s fruits while destroying its essence,” he remarked. “The result is moral decay and the death of genuine spirituality.”
He also cited Dharma Samrat Karpatri Ji Maharaj, one of the most respected orthodox Hindu leaders of the 20th century, who had accused the RSS of corrupting Hindu principles for political purposes. “Karpatri Ji’s warning is now proving true,” Raghvendra said.
“Bhagwat’s ‘All Indians Are Hindus’ Claim Is Misleading”
Responding to Bhagwat’s oft-repeated claim that “every Indian is a Hindu,” Swami Raghvendra said such statements appear inclusive but are fundamentally divisive.
He pointed to the flawed definition of “Hindu” used by early RSS ideologues M.S. Golwalkar and V.D. Savarkar:
“The Hindu is one whose fatherland and holy land both lie between the seas and the Sindhu River.”
According to Raghvendra, this definition is logically and morally deficient.
“It includes those who are not Hindus — such as Indian-born Muslims or Christians — and excludes many genuine Hindus born abroad or converts from other lands,” he explained. “This reveals the shallowness and exclusivity of the RSS worldview.”
“Golwalkar’s Ideology Replaces Faith with Flag Worship”
Swami Raghvendra also criticised Golwalkar’s book Vichar Navneet, in which the RSS guru asserts that even great men like Lord Rama cannot serve as national ideals and that only the saffron flag (Bhagwa Dhwaj) represents the nation.
“This is sheer absurdity,” Raghvendra said. “For Hindus, worship must be based on scriptural authority and spiritual truth — not on political symbols. The saffron flag cannot replace divinity.”
He argued that the RSS’s brand of Hindutva is “scripturally baseless and politically motivated,” designed to create social division rather than harmony.
“RSS’s Idea of Hinduism Is a Political Fabrication”
Concluding his statement, Swami Raghvendra said Bhagwat’s recent comments form part of a long tradition of ideological distortion.
“The RSS version of Hinduism is not grounded in the Vedas or scriptures but in political imagination and Western fascist influences,” he declared. “Its goal is not unity or spirituality but division and dominance.”
He urged Hindus to “reflect deeply” before accepting any political organisation as the custodian of their faith.
— Reported and Translated from Hindi by Team INDIA NOW MEDIA.
(Based on an article authored by Swami Raghvendra, Convener, Satya Dharma Samvad)
📰 Key Q&As
Q&A | Swami Raghvendra on RSS, Hinduism, and Mohan Bhagwat’s Controversial Statement
Sub-headline:
The convener of Satya Dharma Samvad accuses the RSS of distorting Hindu philosophy and using religion for political gain.
Q: What prompted your strong reaction to Mohan Bhagwat’s recent statement?
A: Bhagwat equated the RSS with Hinduism while responding to questions about the organisation’s registration. This is absurd and revealing. It shows that the RSS treats Hinduism as if it were a registered NGO or a cultural association. Religion cannot be registered; it is not an institution but a living tradition of faith and spiritual practice.
Q: Why do you find this comparison offensive?
A: The RSS is a socio-political body that has been banned multiple times. Comparing it with Hinduism, an eternal and universal faith, is not only wrong but insulting. Hinduism expresses timeless truths beyond the limits of any age or circumstance. If the RSS now equates itself with Hinduism, will every Hindu be required to become an RSS member?
Q: You’ve accused the RSS of distorting Hindu values. Can you explain?
A: Yes. The RSS’s behaviour repeatedly contradicts the core spirit of Hindu dharma. For instance, senior leader Manmohan Vaidya publicly admitted that around 30,000 RSS volunteers eat beef. Can an organisation with such practices call itself the embodiment of Hinduism? Those who exploit cow protection sentiments for political gain must face their hypocrisy.
Q: You used the term Ardha-Kukkuti Nyaya — the “half-chicken logic.” What does it mean in this context?
A: It’s an old Indian parable. A man had a hen that laid eggs. He thought, “The back part gives eggs — profit; the front part eats food — loss.” So he cut off the front part. The hen died, and the eggs stopped coming.
The RSS behaves the same way with religion — it takes the benefits but destroys its essence. It wants to reap political gains from faith but rejects its discipline and moral responsibility.
Q: You also referred to Karpatri Ji Maharaj’s criticism of the RSS. Why?
A: Karpatri Ji, the most conservative Hindu leader of the last century, had called the RSS followers of Ardha-Kukkuti Nyaya. He warned that the organisation had nothing to do with protecting dharma but only with distorting it for political needs. His words are proving true today.
Q: How do you interpret Bhagwat’s idea that “every Indian is a Hindu”?
A: It sounds inclusive, but it’s actually divisive. The definition used by Golwalkar and Savarkar says a Hindu is one whose fatherland and holy land are both in India. That’s philosophically flawed. It wrongly includes Indian-born Christians and Muslims, and excludes Hindus born abroad or converts from other nations. That’s not universalism — that’s narrow nationalism.
Q: What do you find problematic in Golwalkar’s view of Hindu symbols?
A: Golwalkar wrote that even Lord Rama cannot be a national ideal and that the saffron flag alone is the supreme symbol. This is absurd. For Hindus, worship and reverence must be based on scriptural authority, not political symbols. Their saffron flag is a political creation, not a spiritual one.
Q: In summary, how do you define the RSS’s idea of Hinduism?
A: The RSS’s Hinduism is a political fabrication, not a spiritual truth. It replaces divine principles with ideology, and harmony with hostility. Bhagwat’s recent statement is part of this distortion — it’s not about unity, but control.
Disclaimer:
This article is authored by Acharya Swamy Raghavendra, Convener, Satya Dharma Samvad. It has been translated and published by Team India Now without any editorial alterations to the original views expressed by the author.
