‘There should be no problem in singing Vande Mataram’: Mohan Bhagwat

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Tuesday said there should be no objection to singing ‘Vande Mataram’, describing it as India's national song, as he addressed the organisation's 101st foundation day celebrations in Nagpur on October 20.

Coinciding with the Dasara festivities, the RSS marked the occasion with its annual Vijayadashami gathering, during which Bhagwat spoke about the organisation's centenary-year activities, political developments and challenges facing India and the world.

Bhagwat cautions against regime-change agitations

Turning to international developments, Bhagwat described the protests and upheavals witnessed in several countries as a warning about forces seeking to influence political systems for their own interests. Referring to France, Nepal, Bangladesh and Albania, he cautioned against assuming that a change in government would automatically resolve underlying problems.

"They claim that changing a regime will change the situation, but that has never really happened," he said.

Bhagwat suggested that some global powers supported India's development but did not want the country to become strong enough to challenge their dominance. He argued that a stronger India could constrain forces seeking to weaken or divide the country.

Referring to the protests in Delhi demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Bhagwat said demonstrations rarely resolved problems on their own.

"Problems will remain, and protests are inevitable in a democracy. But what should the purpose of protests be? They should be aimed at finding solutions," he said.

He warned that protests could be exploited for political purposes when they were driven by objectives other than public welfare, potentially fuelling hostility towards individuals, groups and ideologies.

Bhagwat also called on political leaders, protesters and the administration to ensure that their actions did not deepen divisions in society.

"However intense our emotions may be, we must respect the limits set by our Constitution, the norms of civilised public discourse and standards of decent conduct," he said.

RSS flags global instability, domestic concerns

Bhagwat said the world was grappling with environmental and geopolitical crises, alongside widespread economic insecurity and conflicts driven by power struggles. He asserted that India could offer answers to some of these challenges.

On domestic issues, the RSS chief called for a ban on drugs and narcotics, saying the organisation would work towards addressing the problem. He also advocated regulation of over-the-top (OTT) content.

Bhagwat performed shastra puja (weapon worship) during the Vijayadashami celebrations, which formed part of the RSS's foundation-day observances. (With Agency inputs)