Guwahati: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the largest Hindu nationalist forum of India and the ideologue of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, plans to increase the number of Swayamsevaks (volunteers) by its centenary year in 2025.

RSS Sarkaryavah (general secretary) Dattatreya Hosabale addressed the media in Bhuj of Gujarat on 07 November 2023 after the completion of the three-day Akhil Bharatiya Karyakari Mandal Baithak, (annual meeting of the Central Executive Council). He commented that the current number of daily and weekly Shakhas conducted by RSS Swayamsevaks across Bharat is 95,528. The target has been set to extend the Sangh work to 59,060 Mandals of the country by the next two years. “People of all age groups come to the Shakha. Generally, Swayamsevaks do not have membership in the Sangh. This year, more than 37 lakh (100,000) Swayamsevaks participated in Guru Pujan, who are Swayamsevaks belonging to our daily Shakha,” said Hosabale.

The annual meeting was attended by 357 representatives of 45 provinces and 11 regions including Sanghchalaks, Karyavahs, Pracharaks, all members of the executive committee, and representatives from different organizations. On 5 November, RSS Sarsanghchalak (president) Dr Mohan Bhagwat, and Hosabale inaugurated the meeting with an offering of floral tributes to Bharat Mata. Tributes were paid to the individuals who have given great contributions to the nation and society at large, including Pracharak Ranga Hari, Madandas Devi, Sulabh International founder Bindeshwar Pathak, Tarek Fatah, Bishan Singh Bedi, Balkrishna Jaiswal, Sushila Baluni, N. Vitthal, etc. Condolences were also paid to the victims of recent earthquakes in Nepal.

Talking about the Ram Janmabhoomi temple at Ayodhya, Hosabale mentioned that Shri Ram Lalla’s Pran Pratishtha is going to take place in the newly constructed site on 22 January. Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra has invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sarsanghchalak Bhagwat to grace the occasion. To ensure that people across the country become witnesses of this historic moment from 1 to 15 January, Swayamsevaks will conduct door-to-door Sampark Abhiyan inviting people across India, carrying pictures of Ram Lalla and worshiped Akshat provided by the Teerth Kshetra, added Hosabale.

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