Muslims welcome at ‘Shakhas’ if they chant ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ and respect saffron flag : RSS Chief

Varanasi, April 7, 2025 (Bharat Khabarnama Bureau) Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat has categorically said that Muslims and people of all faiths are welcome to attend RSS shakhas, provided they have no hesitation in chanting “Bharat Mata ki Jai” and show due respect to the “bhagwa jhanda” (saffron flag). His remarks came during an interaction with swayamsewaks (volunteers) in Varanasi on Monday.
Responding to a question during a shakha held at Lajpat Nagar Colony, part of his four-day visit to the spiritual city, Bhagwat clarified the Sangh’s stand on the participation of Muslims. “All Indians are welcome at shakhas. The only condition is that each one coming to join shakha should have no hesitation in chanting ‘Bharat Mata ki jai’ and must show respect for the saffron flag,” he stated.
He further emphasized that while people across the country might follow different religions, Indian culture remains a common thread that unites all. Bhagwat reiterated the need to strengthen societal bonds beyond caste and communal lines and called for collective efforts in addressing environmental and economic challenges.
This outreach gesture is seen in line with the Sangh’s larger plan to expand its base by launching new shakhas in Muslim-majority areas and engaging with what it terms as “moderate Muslims”. The move signals a push for greater dialogue and assimilation while maintaining the ideological core of the organization.
Reports indicate that the RSS has been holding informal meetings with Muslim intellectuals and community leaders in various states, exploring common ground on issues of nationalism and cultural unity. The plan to open shakhas in Muslim habitations is a part of this strategy, aiming to build bridges with sections of the community willing to engage on the Sangh’s terms.
The outreach, however, is expected to spark debates, with critics likely to question the conditional inclusivity based on ideological litmus tests. Nonetheless, the RSS sees it as an important step in redefining national integration from its perspective.
Bhagwat’s remarks reaffirm the RSS’s intent to mold its inclusive narrative around cultural nationalism while continuing to uphold the organization’s symbols and slogans as non-negotiable.