Even Hindu dharma is not registered: Mohan Bhagwat on RSS legal status

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday addressed questions around the legal status of the Sangh and suspicion around its unregistered status, saying the law does not require every organisation to be registered.

“The law does not require or mandate registration. We are an unregistered body of individuals under the law. The Income Tax Department has in the past asked us to pay tax but the courts have exempted the guru dakshina we pay to the Sangh from tax. So we are well within the constitutional and legal framework,” Bhagwat said on the last day of a two-day dialogue with influencers in Bengaluru.

“So we are well within the constitutional and legal framework,” he added.

Bhagwat said the RSS, founded in 1925, did not register with the British government and after independence laws didn’t make it compulsory.

“The RSS manages its finances within the Sangh. Cadres and workers donate to the RSS,” he said.

Bhagwat also took swipes at the opposition which says it is an unconstitutional body.

“We have been banned thrice and each time the courts have resolved the ban. Had we not been a constitutional legal body, how could we be banned? So many statements pro- or anti-RSS are made in Parliament. Can these be made if we are not a constitutional legal organisation?” he asked.

Bhagwat said the RSS is not registered, nor is the “Hindu Dharma registered”.