'Hindus Must Be United': Mohan Bhagwat Addresses Bangladesh Situation During Bengal Visit

Last Updated:December 21, 2025, 23:51 IST

Mohan Bhagwat said the Indian government should take note of the situation facing minorities in Bangladesh and act accordingly.

RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat (Image: PTI/File)

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat addressed a gathering of intellectuals and members of the intelligentsia in Kolkata on December 21, speaking for over four hours on a range of issues, with a strong focus on Hindu unity in West Bengal and Bangladesh.

He said the Indian government should take note of the situation facing minorities in Bangladesh and act accordingly, while expressing confidence that Hindus in West Bengal would unite and bring about social change.

The event marked a decade of the RSS initiative New Horizon. Bhagwat delivered two lectures and later participated in an extended question-and-answer session lasting more than two hours.

Reflecting on the RSS’s 100-year journey, he said the organisation is often misunderstood and can only be properly understood by observing its work directly rather than relying on perceptions.

Bhagwat reiterated that while RSS members may serve in the armed forces or participate in politics, this does not mean the organisation represents either the military or any political party, including the Bharatiya Janata Party.

The centenary-related programme has been held in several cities across the country, and the Kolkata edition drew over 1,000 participants from academic and intellectual circles.

Questions for the interaction were submitted in advance, with developments in Bangladesh and their possible impact on Bengal emerging as a key theme.

Queries on the issue were raised by News18 as well as BJP Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, who referred to what he described as the “Islamisation" of Bengal.

On Bangladesh, Bhagwat said minorities there were facing difficult circumstances and called for unity and support.

“Hindus there must remain united. The global Hindu community should stand with them. We are doing whatever is possible and will do more in the future. India is the country of Hindus, and the government should take note and act. Some steps are already being taken, though not all can be made public," he said.

Speaking about West Bengal, Bhagwat said he was confident that Hindus would unite and that societal change would follow.

He clarified that he was referring to social, not political, change, but added that a transformed society would take its own decisions and “take the right path".

Responding to questions on the Babri Masjid issue, Bhagwat described it as “another political conspiracy".

He also reiterated his view that India is a Hindu nation, remarking that civilisational realities do not depend on constitutional wording.

“Do we need constitutional approval to know that the sun rises in the east?" he said.

On the role of the state in religious matters, Bhagwat said governments should not be involved in the construction of temples or mosques.

Addressing a wide range of topics from social issues to foreign policy, Bhagwat praised India’s external engagement while suggesting that it needed to move at a faster pace.

Political observers say the choice of Kolkata as the venue is significant, reflecting the RSS’s efforts to engage with intellectual circles and expand its influence in Bengal.

With the number of RSS shakhas in the state increasing in recent years, the organisation appears focused on reshaping perceptions and mobilising Hindu society.

Observers add that the emphasis on social change often carries political implications, and Bhagwat’s extended address in Kolkata, particularly in the context of developments in Bangladesh and upcoming elections, is being closely watched.

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