RSS responds to criticism of Mohan Bhagwat’s UK and US visits: “We expect debate, let them speak”

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh says it is “open for dialogue” as protests and criticism follow chief Mohan Bhagwat during his three-country tour.

Bhagwat has already visited the United States and Canada and is now due to address a gathering in the United Kingdom as part of the RSS centenary outreach. His UK visit has drawn protests similar to those during his earlier trip to the United States.

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We are here for peace, integration, and oneness, and we are open to dialogue with everyone. There can be different voices in democracy. I think it's very normal to raise different voices. So we are here for the dialogue, and we are engaging those who wish to hold dialogue.

Speaking at a press briefing in London, RSS media head Sunil Ambedkar defended the organisation’s willingness to engage with its critics. “We are here for peace, integration, and oneness, and we are open to dialogue with everyone. There can be different voices in democracy. I think it's very normal to raise different voices. So we are here for the dialogue, and we are engaging those who wish to hold dialogue,” he said.

Ambedkar added that the organisation wanted to explain its views publicly. “We are here to communicate what we are, what we think, how we think, and what our worldviews are. We are very much open, there's nothing to hide,” he said. “We expect a debate and exchange of thoughts. We're open to the dialogue. Let them speak.”

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We are here to communicate what we are, what we think, how we think, and what our worldviews are. We are very much open, there's nothing to hide.

His remarks came after 20 civil society organisations wrote to London Mayor Sadiq Khan, urging the Greater London Authority to boycott RSS events. The groups also asked Khan to condemn Bhagwat’s visit, as New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani had done.

The letter described the RSS as “an authoritarian and militarist group which drew explicit inspiration from European fascism” and urged Khan not to provide a venue for the event. It was signed by groups including Hindus for Human Rights, the UK-Indian Muslim Council, India Labour Solidarity and the South Asia Solidarity Group. The organisations also sought details about Metropolitan Police measures to protect communities, warning that the visit could increase hate speech, polarisation and fear among the Indian diaspora.

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We expect a debate and exchange of thoughts. We're open to the dialogue. Let them speak.