'Hindu Religion Not Registered Either': Mohan Bhagwat Counters Priyank Kharge's RSS Registration Demand

Published 16 June 2026 · india

'Hindu Religion Not Registered Either': Mohan Bhagwat Counters Priyank Kharge's RSS Registration Demand Published By, Last Updated: June 16, 2026, 13:10 IST RSS chief Mohan

'Hindu Religion Not Registered Either': Mohan Bhagwat Counters Priyank Kharge's RSS Registration Demand Published By, Last Updated: June 16, 2026, 13:10 IST RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said he would not respond to the demands for the registration of the organisation, arguing that the Hindu religion is "not registered" either RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said he would not respond to the demands for the registration of the organisation | File image Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat said Tuesday that he would “not respond" to Karnataka minister and Congress leader Priyank Kharge’s open letter demanding that the organisation register itself and disclose financial details. Bhagwat, the 75-year-old chief of the RSS, argued that the Hindu religion is “not registered" either, adding the demands are merely a part of “political gimmicks", according to a report by NDTV. “There are so many unregistered things going on… The Hindu religion is not registered, many things are not registered," he said. Bhagwat argued that the RSS was “used to" political gimmicks, adding those associated with the organisation “had to face" these things.

“It is just politics… all these gimmicks are being made to those who are used to it. We had to face all these things. We are used to it. If they don’t happen, we feel something is amiss," he said, as quoted by NDTV. Bhagwat highlighted that the RSS — the ideological parent of the Bharatiya Janata Party — doesn’t work in a secretive manner. “Registration is needed only by those who want to have funds from the government. But in case of the RSS, the government knows it is there", he said. The RSS chief highlighted that the organisation’s constitution is “with the government". “The government banned us twice, and that ban was released-once by court order, another by Satyagraha. So, government knows. They banned RSS, that means they knew RSS is there. RSS is recognised… Over 100 years, nobody told us that you must register. Our constitution, written constitution, is with the government. We have submitted it in 1950s," he said. What Priyank Kharge Had Said As the RSS completed 100 years, Karnataka minister Priyank Kharge — also the son of Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge — demanded the RSS register itself to uphold “transparency and constitutional accountability".

“An organisation that claims over 60,000 shakhas and crores of swayamsevaks must also uphold transparency and constitutional accountability", Kharge wrote in a post on ‘X. Dear Shri Mohan Bhagwat ji,My letter will reach you shortly. However, I thought it was important to draw your attention to this matter early.——————————- Firstly, congratulations to the RSS on completing 100 years. An organisation that claims over 60,000 shakhas and crores of… pic.twitter.com/IZy4oeKdMp — Priyank Kharge / ಪ್ರಿಯಾಂಕ್ ಖರ್ಗೆ (@PriyankKharge) June 15, 2026 “As per RSS’ highest and most important decision making body Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha’s 2025–26 Karnataka report, the RSS has 4,127 daily shakhas, 1,389 weekly milans, 60 monthly mandalis, 2,194 Samajotsavas with 19.61 lakh participants and held 562 route marches with 2.21 lakh uniformed participants in the state", he added. Given the RSS’ scale and influence, it must disclose its legal status, registration, office bearers, funding, expenditure, taxation and permissions for public activities, Kharge said. The minister stressed that the RSS should not refrain from registering itself and complying with the law.