If 1.25 crore Hindus want...: RSS chief's message for Bangladesh minorities

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday delivered a sharp message on the situation of Hindus in crisis-hit Bangladesh, saying that if the country's Hindu population decides to stand and fight for its rights, they will receive the support of Hindus across the world.

"There are about 1.25 crore Hindus in Bangladesh. If they decide to stay there and fight, all Hindus across the world will help them," Bhagwat said while addressing the second day of the RSS lecture series in Mumbai.

Bhagwat was speaking at the two-day Vyakhyanmala titled ‘100 Years of Sangh Journey: New Horizons’, organised to mark the RSS centenary at the Nehru Centre in Worli.

Bangladesh has witnessed a surge in mob violence against minorities, especially Hindus, over the past few months, following the death of anti-India radical student leader Sharif Osman Hadi. The unrest escalated after nationwide protests erupted in the aftermath of exiled Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s ouster, which followed the student-led agitation dubbed the 'July Uprising' on August 5, 2024.

Amid the turmoil, violent mobs have targeted Hindu citizens across the country, killing several people including businessmen, labourers and students. The attacks were carried out during street protests that spiralled into organised assaults on minority

On domestic issues, the RSS chief said governments in the past had not done enough to address changing population dynamics in India. He cited birth rates and illegal immigration as major reasons behind the shift.

"The government earlier did not do enough on population changes. Birth rate and illegal immigration are reasons. Now that the government has started acting, it will be successful," Bhagwat said.

He also asserted that India can no longer be weakened. "India cannot be broken now. Those who try to break India will be broken," he added.

Furthermore, Bhagwat also addressed questions about the organisation's funding, saying the RSS does not rely on corporate or institutional money. "People are curious about RSS funds. We raise funds from our workers. When we travel, we ask for tiffin instead of buying food. We stay in the homes of workers, not in hotels," he said.

On leadership and caste, Bhagwat said the RSS does not discriminate. "Anyone from any caste can become RSS chief. SC-ST is no disqualification and Brahmin is no qualification. We work for all castes, though RSS initially started with Brahmins," he said.

Referring to work in Muslim-dominated areas, Bhagwat said the Sangh avoids confrontation. "Challenges in Muslim areas are handled by not responding. They may use cuss words, but we don't respond. That way conflict does not increase," he said.

The remarks on Sunday followed Bhagwat's address on Saturday, the first day of the lecture series, where he said the RSS is not "against anyone" and does not seek power or function as a pressure group.

"The Sangh is not against anyone. It does not want power. Its objective is only to unite society," Bhagwat said, recalling that RSS founder Dr Keshav Baliram Hedgewar started the organisation in 1925 after identifying a lack of unity in society.

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