Mohan Bhagwat Slams Viral Clip, Says RSS Supports Reservations

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has always supported reservations as per the Constitution, its chief Mohan Bhagwat said on Sunday.

Speaking at an event he said, "A video is being circulated on social media platforms claiming that the Sangh is against reservation. Behind this patently false and misleading video are people, who preach reservation when outside, among the people, but work against the idea behind the scenes. Such claims are totally baseless."

He attended the event organised to mark the inauguration of Vidya Bharati Vignana Kendra (VBVK) in Hyderabad on Sunday. Situated in Nadergul, Telangana, it is is an international school that adheres to the curriculum set by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). It is operated by Sri Saraswathi Vidyapeetham.

"The Sangh has always stood for reservation, as sanctioned and guaranteed under the Constitution, from the very beginning. We believe that reservation should continue as long as it is necessary for those who need it, as they are provided for reasons of backwardness and lack of parity in terms of their living or social standing. The quotas should remain in place as long as discriminations aren't eliminated," Bhagwat added.

In response to a widely shared video across social media platforms alleging that the BJP's ideological parent was against reservations, his statement clarified the Sangh's stance on the matter.

Telangana Chief Minister and Congress leader Revanth Reddy had earlier said that the RSS and its associated groups opposed the Mandal Commission, established in 1978 to investigate and advance the concept of providing reservations to socially disadvantaged groups and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in employment and education.

"Back in the day, the RSS and its affiliate groups opposed the Mandal Commission and the idea of reservation. The Supreme Court, too, allowed reservations for backward classes, while capping the extent of quotas allocated at 50 cent," the Telangana CM claimed.