Overview

• Emphasising the BJP’s autonomy, Bhagwat said the RSS does not decide party appointments and that leaders must have independence to act within governance constraints.
• Clarifying succession chatter, he said he never advocated retirement at 75 and cited a Moropant Pingle anecdote being misread, adding there are several leaders capable of succeeding him.
• He urged families to consider three children, framed conversion and illegal migration as drivers of demographic imbalance, and said jobs should go to citizens, including Muslims, not illegal immigrants.
• Framing Bharat as already a Hindu Rashtra, he described Akhand Bharat as a civilisational idea, called religion a personal choice without coercion, and backed integrating Gurukul learning with mainstream education with an Indian-origin common language.
• He reaffirmed support for constitutionally mandated reservation and, while fielding questions on tariffs and policy, said the RSS offers suggestions but does not direct the government’s decisions.