Nagpur: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat on Tuesday stated that protesters must focus on finding constructive solutions rather than creating divisions within society, as he addressed a range of social concerns and global challenges during the annual Vijayadashami event. His remarks regarding protests came against the backdrop of recent agitations demanding the removal of the chief election commissioner and the scrapping of the electoral roll Special Intensive Revision over alleged irregularities.
Speaking at the RSS headquarters in Nagpur to mark the organisation's 101st anniversary, Bhagwat pointed to demonstrations in India and Western countries, characterizing them as part of a disruptive cultural storm arriving from the West that challenges systemic conduct and institutional security. He noted that similar unrest has been witnessed internationally in countries like France, Nepal, and Bangladesh, emphasizing that complex problems are rarely resolved simply through agitation or regime changes.
Bhagwat cautioned that street protests rarely solve deep-seated societal issues and alleged that narrow-minded global powers alongside domestic political opponents are actively working to weaken India. He stated that these external and internal entities exploit existing social differences, amplify feelings of victimhood, and try to distance citizens from the collective social order to foster hatred toward governance systems and create widespread disorder.
At the same time, Bhagwat expressed satisfaction that the younger generation is displaying a growing sense of national pride, which he noted has become a concern for forces attempting to undermine India's stability. He urged the public not to let a desire for cheap publicity override national wisdom, stressing that unity and societal upliftment offer the most effective solutions.
During his address, Bhagwat called for a strict ban on drugs and narcotics, pledging that the RSS would actively combat the menace, and advocated for proper regulation of over-the-top media content to protect cultural values and young audiences. He highlighted India's civilizational ethos of accepting and protecting pluralism, recalling the historical hardships faced during foreign invasions.
Bhagwat also paid tribute to historical figures, marking the 650th birth anniversary of Sant Ravidas Ji Maharaj for spreading social harmony, the birth centenary of Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati Maharaj for his service to tribal communities in Odisha, and the ongoing bicentenary celebrations of Mahatma Jyotirao Phule.
Earlier in the day, Bhagwat performed traditional shastra puja at the Vijayadashami Utsav. Dainik Jagran Editor-in-Chief Sanjay Gupta served as the chief guest, with other attendees including former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, and Israel's Consul General in Mumbai, Yaniv Revach.