Bhagwat warns protests can become political tools, urges restraint from govt too

NEW DELHI: Warning that when a movement becomes “a tool of politics”, forces seeking to undermine India take advantage, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Tuesday linked political protests and distrust of institutions to alleged foreign attempts to destabilise the country. But his Vijayadashami address in Nagpur also carried a message for governments: respect citizens' dignity, act within constitutional limits and avoid deepening divisions while addressing grievances.The remarks came amid protests over the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and demands for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation. Bhagwat did not name the Commission, SIR or any political party, nor did he present evidence connecting the protests with foreign forces.The warning was not new. In 2023, Bhagwat had identified “cultural Marxists” and “Woke” forces as promoting anarchy through education, media and public discourse.