RSS to skip invites to Pakistan, Turkey, Bangladesh embassies for centenary events

Time of India

05-08-2025

NEW DELHI: The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) will not extend invitations to the embassies of Pakistan, Turkey and Bangladesh for its 100th anniversary celebrations, though it is reaching out to other diplomatic missions it has been in touch with.
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The list of invitees also includes representatives of minority communities, sports and cultural icons, thought leaders, and entrepreneurs from emerging fields such as Indian knowledge systems and start-ups.
The highlight of the centenary year will be a three-day dialogue in Delhi from August 26, led by Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat, focusing on the Sangh's century-long journey, its role in nation-building and its vision for 'new horizons.'
Bhagwat's Delhi address will be part of a series of four major events in the run-up to the Vijayadashami centenary on October 2. Similar dialogues are scheduled in Bengaluru in November, Kolkata thereafter, and Mumbai. Each will feature two days of lectures by Bhagwat and a third day devoted to a pre-submitted question-and-answer session. The discussions will cover the Sangh's experiences over the past century, its core ideas, and its priorities for the coming decades.
The Delhi programme will begin at 5.30 pm each day and will also delve into the 'Panch Parivartan' (Five Transformations) agenda of the centenary year. Bhagwat is expected to touch on issues such as India shaping its future on indigenous strengths rather than colonial-era benchmarks, unexplored capacities in various fields, and the country's evolving global role.
According to RSS Prachar Pramukh Sunil Ambekar, the invitation list spans around 17 main categories and 138 sub-categories, including social, economic, religious, spiritual, sports, arts, media and intellectual leaders.
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'Our aim is that the entire country should move forward together on its development journey. We want dialogue with all sections of society,' he said.
Ambekar added that while outreach to some foreign missions is underway, certain countries will be excluded. 'We are in contact with many embassies, but in the current context Pakistan, will not be invited,' he said. According to RSS sources countries like Bangladesh and Turkey are also not going to be invited.
The outreach also covers young innovators in technology, language promotion and entrepreneurship.
He said over 1,000 pramukh nagarik goshtis (eminent citizen meetings) will be held across districts in addition to the flagship city events. 'Through these programmes we are trying to connect people from all walks of life, and we hope all types of people will participate in these discussions,' Ambekar added.