RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat: 'Sangh does not run Modi government from Nagpur'

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Tuesday said it is a misconception that the Narendra Modi government is run by the people from the RSS headquarters in Nagpur and that the Sangh does not interfere in its policies and functioning.

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat speaks on the 2nd day at the event titled Future of Bharat: An RSS perspective, in New Delhi. PTI Photo

NEW DELHI: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Tuesday said it is a misconception that the Narendra Modi government is run by the people from the RSS headquarters in Nagpur and that the Sangh does not interfere in its policies and functioning. On the second day of the "Bhavishya ka Bharat - an RSS perspective" conclave, Bhagwat said: "People often speculate that phone calls from Nagpur influence the decision making process of the Centre, this is all baseless. All those working (in the government) are seniors and they are far more experienced in politics than us." "They don't need Sangh's advice. They neither depend on our advice, nor do we give any. If they need any suggestion, they ask for it, and if we have something to offer, then we give it. "But we have no influence on the government's policies," he added. Bhagwat said the Sangh believes the centre of power should remain as envisaged in the Constitution and that it considers it wrong if it is not so. He said the aim of the RSS is to unite the society whereas in politics there prevail several ideologies, that is why the Sangh had abstained from electoral politics since its inception. However, the Sangh continued to have its views on issues which affect the country, he said. "We don't participate in politics, (that) doesn't mean we don't have any views. We do have our views on national policies, we talk about the policies with all our might," said Bhagwat. "Sangh abstaining from politics doesn't mean we will not talk about infiltrators. These are national issues and they affect the entire country. Sangh gives its views on all such issues," he added. He said the RSS in accordance with the Constitution and it has never done anything that is against the law. "It's our duty to follow the Constitution and whatever I am saying is not contradictory to the law," the RSS chief said. (With inputs from agencies)