Mysuru, Oct. 26 – It is not the intention of everyone in the Karnataka Congress Government to ban or regulate the activities of the RSS. This is merely the agenda of a few leaders, opined Author and India Foundation Chairman Dr. Ram Madhav.

He was speaking at an interactive session titled ‘RSS 100 – Centenary Year of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)’ organised by Manthana Mysuru and Sri Jana Jagarana Trust, Mysuru, at Vedika Auditorium, Jagannatha Centre for Art and Culture (JCAC), Vijayanagar 1st Stage, Mysuru, last evening.

Star of Mysore and Mysuru Mithra Managing Editor Vikram Muthanna, who moderated the session, asked Dr. Ram Madhav, “The Karnataka Congress Government has taken steps to regulate or ban RSS activities in public spaces and has even moved to restrict Government employees from participating in RSS activities. What is your opinion on this?”

Responding with a smile, Dr. Ram Madhav remarked, “Good luck to them,” and added that not everyone in the Congress Government shares such views.

“Some leaders have perhaps taken this up as their personal agenda and are moving forward accordingly,” he observed.

Political agenda

He further stated that historically, the RSS has faced such situations effectively. “Based on my experience, there is nothing behind this except political motives,” Dr. Madhav said.

“Imposing restrictions on the RSS may be part of certain individuals’ internal and political agendas. However, RSS has proven its resilience time and again. Even among members of Congress Government, several acknowledge that RSS is doing good work, though they privately say, ‘We have our own political objectives.’ That is why I said, ‘Good luck to them’,” he added.

Citing history, Dr. Madhav said, “The RSS has faced bans three times. In 1980, when a proposal to ban the RSS was brought before Indira Gandhi, she reportedly told her party members that the RSS is like a rubber ball — the harder you hit it to the ground, the stronger it bounces back.”

Over 30 Court judgments

He asserted that attempts to regulate or ban the RSS are inappropriate. “Over the past 100 years, at least 30 Court judgments have gone against efforts to control the RSS. The organisation has even published a book on this. Hence, banning the RSS or preventing Government employees from participating in its activities is simply not possible,” he said.

“There is no political agenda or anti-national element in RSS activities. Therefore, imposing restrictions on Government employees engaging with the RSS is unjustified,” he noted.

Addressing misconceptions, Dr. Ram Madhav stated that many people have a mistaken understanding of RSS, particularly in Karnataka, where continuous negative propaganda has contributed to this perception.

Open to society

“Since its inception, the organisation has faced such misunderstandings. Earlier, the RSS may not have effectively communicated the concept of Hindutva, and some have wrongly portrayed it as a separatist ideology. But Hindutva is simply a way of life rooted in the principles of Hinduism,” he explained.

He pointed out that until the 1990s, the RSS did not even have a publicity wing. “Because of that, many people spread baseless claims against the organisation, and RSS did not respond. This also contributed to misconceptions. However, in recent years, the RSS has opened itself to society and engaged actively with the community, helping to dispel many of these misunderstandings,” he said.

Constitutionally secular, culturally Hindu

Speaking on secularism, Dr. Madhav said, “In 1949, many suggested including the word ‘secular’ in the Preamble of our Constitution, but Dr. B.R. Ambedkar reportedly said it was unnecessary. According to him, we are naturally secular as a nation. Our principle is to treat everyone with equal respect — it is neither about imposing nor rejecting any belief,” he noted.

“Ours has always been a society rooted in spiritual values, which we call ‘Sarva Dharma Sama Bhava’ — equal respect for all faiths. That is why Dr. Ambedkar asked, ‘Why add a term that confuses?’ Jawaharlal Nehru also had said such words could create conflict. The RSS is not opposed to secularism; it supports Indian spirit of respecting all cultures,” he asserted.

MLA T.S. Srivatsa, Sri Jana Jagarana Trust Mysuru President R. Vasudev Bhat, entrepreneur Dr. M. Jagannath Shenoy, Dr. N. Chandrashekar of Aadithya Adhikari Hospital and several other dignitaries were present.