True 'sevak' does not have arrogance, decorum not maintained in polls: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, in his first public remarks after the results of the Lok Sabha elections 2024, on Monday (June 10) said that a true sevak (those who serve the people) does not have “ahankar” (arrogance) and does his/her work without hurting others.

While commenting on the bitter poll campaign, Bhagwat said “decorum was not maintained”.

While speaking at a gathering of RSS leaders and workers, after the culmination of Karyakarta Vikas Varg, Bhagwat emphasised the importance of building consensus.

“Jo vastavik sevak hai, jisko vastavik sevak kaha ja sakta hai, woh maryada se chalta hai… Uss maryada ka paalan karke jo chalta hai woh karm karta hai lekin karmon mein lipt nahi hota. Usme ahankar nahin aata ki maine kiya. Aur wahi sevak kehlane ka adhikari rehta hai (A true sevak maintains decorum while working… The one who maintains decorum does his work, but remains unattached. There is no arrogance that I did this. Only such a person has the right to be called a sevak),” Bhagwat said.

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The RSS chief further criticised the political campaigns carried out before the elections.

“The kind of things that were said, the way the two sides castigated each other (during the elections)… the way no one cared about social divisions being created because of what was being done… and for no reason the Sangh was dragged into this… untruths were spread with the use of technology. Is this the way knowledge should be used? How will the country operate like this?” Bhagwat said.

Opposition is not an opponent, says RSS chief

Speaking on the rise of Opposition in this Lok Sabha elections, Bhagwat said, “I do not call it Virodhi Paksh, I call it Pratipaksh. Pratipaksh virodhi nahi hai (The Opposition is not an opponent). It is revealing a side and that must be deliberated upon. If we understand that this is how we must operate, then we must be cognizant of the decorum required in contesting elections. That decorum was not maintained.”

Manipur is still burning: Bhagwat

Bhagwat further reiterated the concern of the Sangh over continuing violence in Manipur and questioned who will pay attention to the issues on the ground. He stated that it needs to be dealt with on priority.

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Emphasising the increase in violence in Manipur, Bhagwat said, “Everywhere there is social disharmony. This is not good. For the past one year, Manipur has been awaiting peace. It was peaceful for the past one decade. It appeared that the gun culture of yore was gone. But the gun culture that took shape suddenly, or was created, Manipur is still burning. Who is going to pay attention to it? It is a duty to deal with it on priority.”

(With inputs from agencies)