Mohan Bhagwat clarifies RSS-BJP ties, stresses education reforms and warns on migration, conversion issues

New Delhi (India) August 28: Mohan Bhagwat, the head of the RSS, has made it clear that the Sangh does not make political decisions for the BJP. It merely offers advice. He states that the party has the last say on the matter. This is in response to rumors that the selection of the new BJP president has been delayed.

Sangh gives advice only

Mohan Bhagwat denies on Thursday that the group has complete influence over all BJP policies. He states that such assumptions are false when discussing the delay in announcing the next BJP president.

"This is completely wrong... This cannot happen at all... I have been running the Sangh for many years, and they are running the government. Therefore, we can only give advice, not make a decision. If we were deciding, would it take so much time? We do not decide... Take your time," Bhagwat added.

No conflict with BJP

Bhagwat further emphasizes that although the BJP and RSS might have different viewpoints, they will never have different hearts. He clarifies that the Sangh keeps in touch with the federal government and the state administrations, but that the BJP alone has the power to make the ultimate decision.

He says, "We are having good coordination with every government, both state governments and the central governments. But there are systems which have some internal contradictions. The system in general is the same, which was invented by the British so that they can rule. So, we have to have some innovations. Then, we want something to happen. Even if the man in the chair is 100% for us, he has to do it and knows what the hurdles are. He may or may not be able to do it. We have to give him that independence. There is no quarrel anywhere.”

Call for Gurukul model

The head of the RSS also urges to introduce Gurukul education into regular schooling. He states that it is about learning about the nation's customs rather than living in an ashram. Bhagwat states that while he opposes making Sanskrit necessary. But it is important for learning the nation's practices and history. 

The RSS sarsanghchalak stated that the Gurukul education model is comparable to the Finnish educational model. It should be connected to the mainstream.

He says, "In Finland, which is a leading country in education, there is a separate university for training teachers. Many people come from abroad because the local population is small, so they accept students from all countries. Education up to the eighth grade is conducted in the mother tongue of the students so Gurukul education is not about going and living in an ashram, it has to be linked with the mainstream." 

Warning on illegal migration

The RSS chairman also calls illegal migration and conversion the main causes of demographic imbalance. He recommends against hiring illegal migrants.

Bhagwat says, “Conversion and illegal migration are key reasons for demographic imbalance. We should not give jobs to illegal immigrants; we should give jobs to our own people, including Muslims.”