Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Joint General Secretary Arun Kumar on Saturday spoke about the working of the RSS, its relations with the Bharatiya Janata Party and also talked of the roadmap for the future.
Arun Kumar, while answering a question on what changed for the Sangh after the BJP came to power, said that there has been no change in the functioning of the RSS after the BJP came to power. He also downplayed reports claiming that those associated with the RSS were inducted into Prime Minister Narendra Modi's cabinet, by saying that the PM inducted those who were elected through a democratic system.
"The work of the RSS to connect people. The work to connect people is based on friendship. So, there won't be any change (or impact) on the RSS after the BJP is in power. The (work of the RSS) will change only on the basis of efforts of RSS workers and Swyamsevaks," Arun Kumar said while speaking during the session 'Understanding RSS' at ABP Network's Ideas of India 2025 Summit on Saturday.
"The RSS doesn't promote any person...But Sangh is the center of attraction today. There are many things on the media which is not related to Sangh. So, we have to answer even those issues.
He said that people do come to the RSS to get their work done, but added that they get to know after some days that they cannot get their work done.
Speaking on a media report claiming that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has filled his cabinet with people associated to the RSS, Arun Kumar said that PM Modi has filled his cabinet with people who have been chosen from the parliamentary democratic system.
"I think that Modi becoming the prime minister is the result of the hard work of his party. He (Modi) has filled his cabinet with people who have been elected from the democratic system. He hasn't filled it with RSS people. He has filled his cabinet with people who has been chosen from the parliamentary democratic system," he said.
He further said that many people reach out to Sangh because of the discipline of the RSS.
"People come to the Sangh, it is because of Sangh's dedication. We reach out to people and then build communication...They come to Sangh because of its dedication, not due its power...People come because of the Sangh's hard work," he said.
"If an industrialist or a space scientist comes to our event, then it is because of the years of dedication of 5-10 years," he said, adding that the practice has been there for long, even before the BJP came to power.
Speaking on what changed in the RSS over the years, he said, "The working style of the Sangh has not changed, its culture and texture have not changed. There are three things about the Sangh that have not changed."
RSS Leader On Functioning Of Sangh
RSS Joint General Secretary Arun Kumar said that the organisation was started in Nagpur and its 'Shakhas' and 'Milans' were opened across the country.
Speaking of the RSS expansion, Kumar said, " We reached every 'Prant', districts and sub-divisions. Now our target is that for every 10,000 population, we have to open 'Mandal' and 'Basti' in rural areas. We have to reach that target."
Out of 1,20,000 units, the RSS has reached 65 per cent of the units, he said. "In the next century, we have to reach all the units. There are around 50 lakh Swyamsevaks in the country," he added.