‘RSS Must Clarify Hindutva’: Swami Yatindranand Giri Questions Bhagwat’s MSG Speech, Backs Yogi as ‘India’s Choice’

‘RSS Must Clarify Definition of Hindutva’: Swami Yatindranand Giri Reacts to Mohan Bhagwat’s Statement; Calls CM Yogi ‘India’s Choice’.

Upendra Bharti | HENB | Bareilly | September 4, 2026: Swami Yatindranand Giri, a senior Mahamandaleshwar of the Juna Akhara and an influential saint in VHP, has reacted to a recent statement by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat at the ‘One World One Humanity’ conference held at Madison Square Garden (MSG) in New York, calling on the Sangh to clarify its definitions of Hindutva and nationalism.

At his Madison Square Garden speech, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said that “if Hindus think excluding Muslims [in India], they cease to be Hindu,” stressing that Muslims are an integral part of India’s national fabric.

Speaking to the media during his visit to Bareilly, Swami Yatindranand Giri said that a shift in the RSS’s ideological position has become evident in recent times, leaving some of the organisation’s own volunteers confused. He said the context in which Bhagwat made his statement needed to be clearly explained.

‘India Defined by Sanatan Culture and Hindu Dharma’

Swami Yatindranand Giri asserted that India is fundamentally defined by its Sanatan culture and Hindu Dharma and said the country cannot be imagined without them.

Commenting on Islam, he said it should be understood as a mazhab (faith or creed) or panth (sect), rather than Dharma in the Vedic sense of righteous duty and universal order.

Attack on Rahul Gandhi

The Mahamandaleshwar also sharply criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, alleging that he was not serious about the progress of the nation.

He remarked that Rahul Gandhi’s intellect needed “purification” and described him as a “boon” for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

He further stated that those who oppose Sanatan culture in India would eventually cease to exist.

‘Yogi Model Being Praised Globally’

Praising the working style of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Swami Yatindranand Giri claimed that the “Yogi Model” is being discussed and appreciated in various parts of the world.

He said Yogi Adityanath is “India’s choice” and expressed opposition to what he described as the appeasement of the Pasmanda community.

“Modi’s policy of minority appeasement is not favoured by Hindus; that is why Hindus have placed special trust in ‘Baba Bulldozer’. The seat of power in Delhi should be vacated for Yogi,” he said.

However, Swami Yatindranand Giri also issued a warning to the BJP, saying that neglecting the party’s cadre could prove costly in the upcoming elections. He cautioned the party against placing excessive reliance on outsiders and stressed the importance of its organisational workers.

Call for Action on Mathura and Varanasi Disputes

Giri also called for greater initiative from Yogi Adityanath on the issues surrounding the Krishna Janmasthan in Mathura and Gyanvapi in Varanasi.

He urged the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister to take further steps towards what he described as the liberation of these two religious sites.

Remarks on the Ancestry of Indian Muslims

Swami Yatindranand Giri also said that Muslims in India should remember the history of their ancestors.

He claimed that many people had abandoned Hinduism and embraced Islam during periods of medieval invasions and religious coercion. In this context, he referred to the eras associated with Muhammad Ghori, the Khiljis and Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.

His remarks come amid continuing debate over the RSS’s interpretation of Hindutva, nationalism and the place of Muslims in India, following Mohan Bhagwat’s recent comments in New York.
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