New Delhi: The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has extended invitations to envoys from nearly 50 countries—including the US, China, Russia, the UK, the UAE, and South Africa—for attending its centenary year lecture series. This interaction, meant to highlight the RSS’s mission and centenary milestones, is slated for August 26–28 in New Delhi.
Envoys from Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Japan are also expected to attend, while representatives from Pakistan and Bangladesh have not been invited.
The event, titled “100 Years of RSS Journey: New Horizons,” is being hailed by volunteers as a “historic and landmark civil society initiative.”
RSS communications head Sunil Ambekar announced that the dialogue will unfold in four phases, beginning with the Delhi-NCR region, followed by Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Kolkata. Invitations have been extended in 17 categories and across 138 sub-categories.T
Ambekar added that ambassadors from various countries and personalities from across the political spectrum—including the Congress—have been invited. Among BJP and NDA attendees are ministers Ravneet Singh Bittu, Jyotiraditya Scindia, TDP’s Ram Mohan Naidu, Apna Dal’s Anupriya Patel, and JD(U)’s KC Tyagi and Sanjay Jha. However, names of the Congress invitees have not been revealed.
These dialogues will allow Mohan Bhagwat to articulate the RSS’s centenary vision—its century-long journey, current challenges confronting India, and the organization’s approach to tackling them. Invitations are aimed at leaders “who may not be fully familiar with the ideals of the RSS.”
In tandem, the RSS has scheduled a national coordination meeting with all 32 of its affiliates—including the BJP—from September 5 to 7 in Jodhpur. This gathering will review major announcements made by Prime Minister Modi in his Independence Day address, such as the formation of a demography mission focused on altering demographic patterns in border regions, and various financial reforms. Ambekar noted that this meeting will involve thorough discussions on national unity, security, and social issues, along with steps to ensure mutual coordination among the affiliates.
Speculations are rife that the name of the new BJP President may also be discussed at the meeting.