Indore, Oct 31: The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is always ready for a debate on national issues but people must remain vigilant to ensure that anti-national forces do not misuse public protests, a senior Sangh leader said here on Saturday, reiterating his organisation's views.
An extensive debate on the RSS' nationalist views on Hindutva and other issues has been going on for more than 100 years, and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and other functionaries are always willing to engage in dialogue on these subjects, said the Sangh's Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh Sunil Ambekar.
He was speaking to the media ahead of the RSS' annual meeting, scheduled to begin here on November 2.
When asked whether the RSS was late in reaching out to the younger generation, particularly in the wake of the recent Gen Z protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, Ambekar said it was wrong to view the organisation as either supporting or opposing those who raised questions about issues concerning the country.
"If someone in the country raises their voice on an issue, why do you consider the Sangh to be either for or against it? That is a wrong way of thinking. If someone raises a question concerning the country, that is fine. They have the right to do so," said the RSS' all-India publicity chief.
Ambekar further said, “As the Sarsanghchalak (Mohan Bhagwat) also said in his address at the (RSS) Vijayadashami celebrations in Nagpur, everyone must ensure that any protests taking place in the country are in the country's interest and aimed at taking it forward. Therefore, everyone must remain vigilant to ensure that forces opposed to the country's interests do not infiltrate protests and misuse them.”
Ambekar said the RSS remains attentive to the issue and would continue to do so.
He also asserted that the Sangh is not against any emerging mass communication medium or technology.
"The Sangh does not oppose any mass communication medium or its new technology, but as human beings, we certainly need to think about how we use these platforms. The Sangh will continue to work towards creating awareness in society on this issue," he said.
He said youth participation in RSS activities was steadily increasing, he said.
Around two lakh people attended the organisation's introductory training camps last year, he said, adding that the Sangh continuously engages with young people through various programmes.
On the University Grants Commission's (UGC) controversial regulations and circular, Ambekar said the RSS had already described the circular as "imbalanced".
He said the government and the UGC had taken note of the concerns raised, and the court had also stayed the regulations. The matter was currently before the court, he added.
"Our position is that whatever happens next on this issue should be balanced, and the government must ensure this," he said.
Ambekar said a single circular should not disrupt social harmony and that society must remain united.
The Centre notified new regulations in January requiring all higher education institutions to set up 'Equity Committees' to examine complaints of discrimination and promote equality. The University Grants Commission (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026, require these committees to include members from the OBC, SC and ST communities, persons with disabilities and women.
When asked whether the RSS, which runs over one lakh daily shakhas across the country, was considering registering itself, Ambekar said there was no such proposal at present. He said more than 13,000 new shakhas started over the past year.
Ambekar said 408 functionaries, including Bhagwat and RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale, would attend the Akhil Bharatiya Karyakari Mandal meeting, scheduled to begin in Indore next week.
The three-day meeting would discuss various issues, including proposed changes to the organisation's structure, he said.
The Akhil Bharatiya Karyakari Mandal is the RSS's principal organisational body. According to Sangh functionaries, the meeting is expected to review programmes marking the organisation's centenary year and discuss content for new communication platforms, foreign interference in the country, the global situation and the problem of substance abuse.
