RSS survival and expansion over a century is among its biggest achievements, says B.L. Santosh
BJP leader B.L. Santosh defended the RSS's century-long history, describing the organization as a centrist force focused on social transformation rather than right-wing politics. He addressed criticisms regarding caste composition and the organization's stance on religious minorities.
Why it matters
The RSS is a highly influential ideological organization in India, and its public positioning significantly impacts the national political discourse.
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s survival and expansion over a century is among its biggest achievements, said BJP national general secretary B.L. Santosh in Puducherry on Sunday.
Speaking at an interactrive session on “The RSS at 100” organised as part of the Bharat Shakti Pondy Lit Fest 2026, he defended the organisation’s ideological framework and described political engagement as a means of broader social transformation.
He said the RSS, founded in 1925, had emerged when Indian society was fragmented and disconnected from its civilisational legacy. According to him, the organisation sought to bring society together around cultural values and create conditions for what it considers positive traditions to flourish.
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