RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Thursday dismissed the perception that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh dictates the Bharatiya Janata Party’s decisions, asserting that the BJP functions independently in governance and internal affairs.

Speaking at the ‘RSS Centenary Lecture Series – 100 Years of Sangh’s Journey: New Horizons’ at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi, Bhagwat said the Sangh “only offers suggestions” and never interferes in BJP’s decision-making process.

“This belief that everything in BJP is managed by RSS is completely wrong. It cannot happen,” he stated. Responding to a query about delays in BJP’s internal elections, Bhagwat remarked: “If we were deciding everything, would it have taken so much time? They should take their own time.”

Bhagwat further explained that while the RSS may advise, the final call always rests with BJP leadership. On governance, he noted that India’s administrative system, inherited from the British, has structural challenges and internal contradictions, making the process complex even for committed leaders.

He acknowledged that differences among trade unions, small-scale industry bodies, and the government are natural, emphasizing that the Sangh and the BJP trust each other but disagreements can occur.

“Our swayamsevaks work honestly. We allow experiments, and if results are good, everyone accepts them. There is no quarrel anywhere,” he said. Bhagwat concluded by reiterating that both organizations share mutual trust, and any struggles in finding solutions do not mean conflicts.