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The Sangh general secretary shared his views on political instability, youth mobilisation and the role of ideological organisations
RSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale.
RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale, while dismissing concerns over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, has said electoral lists needed to be “cleaned up and revised”, arguing that the exercise should not become a subject of political confrontation or “agenda”.
Recalling the tenure of former chief election commissioner TN Seshan on Wednesday, Hosabale said electoral rolls had been cleaned up even then, irrespective of which government was in power. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) general secretary was addressing the media after the completion of the Sangh’s crucial three-day meeting in Indore.
Hosabale, while mentioning the 13 crore names that were “dropped off” the electoral rolls, said the removal of deceased voters and duplicate entries was needed. He also disclosed that he had received a notice himself during the exercise, and it never bothered him as he followed the process.
While political parties were entitled to pursue their respective agendas, the RSS general secretary said genuine grievances should be taken to the Election Commission (EC), adding that there was no inherent problem with the SIR process.
The remarks came against the backdrop of a wider discussion on political instability, youth mobilisation and the role of ideological organisations, with Hosabale making a pointed intervention on the growing discourse around regime change and Gen Z-led protests.
‘Regime Change Through Elections, Not Violence’
Government change, Hosabale asserted, must take place through elections in democracy. Alleging that anarchist elements were attempting to provoke people into seeking ‘regime change’ through violence and divisiveness, he claimed that foreign hands and divisive forces were conspiring to destabilise societies.
On Gen Z and the narrative around the protests, he said, “the Sangh has been making efforts to connect with young people positively” while also acknowledging that the younger generation often develops an anti-establishment sentiment. Recalling his own participation in the JP Movement, he said, “Youth energy is important but needs to be channelled in the right direction rather than being used as a political weapon.”
From Drug Networks To Digital Exposure
On the growing drug menace, Hosabale said the administration was working to tackle drug networks and that the home minister has been taking steps in this direction. The Sangh, too, was focusing on awareness, rehabilitation and mental counselling. “A dedicated project to address the issue was discussed at the meeting,” he added.
On social media and OTT content, he acknowledged that technological influence was difficult to contain through restrictions alone. Referring to India’s attempt to ban TikTok and restrictions being considered in some countries on internet access for children below 13, he said governments could bring in regulations, but families and society had an equally important responsibility. When to give children digital devices and how much access to allow should be discussed within families, while society must help impart ‘sanskar’ and shape their character.
On reservation, Hosabale said affirmative action remained necessary for historically and socially disadvantaged communities and should continue until inequality was eradicated. He cautioned against turning the issue into a political contest.
63,208 Shakhas And A Widening Footprint
The organisational figures presented after the meeting offered a snapshot of the Sangh’s expansion during its centenary year. The RSS now has 63,208 daily shakhas across the country, an increase of 8,156 in a year. It also reported 32,000 weekly milans. A figure of 99,423 was cited for centenary-year activities.
The Sangh also held social harmony meetings in 8,346 nagars and 5,026 khands, with around five lakh intellectuals and heads of prominent organisations participating. Its Hindu Sammelans drew a reported 4.94 crore participants, with programmes held in Arunachal Pradesh, Ladakh and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Hosabale cited expansion in regions where the Sangh had earlier faced resistance. West Bengal, he said, had recorded a 150-fold increase in shakhas.
Arunachal Pradesh has 48, Mizoram two, while shakhas are also present in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. He also cited the presence of shakhas across mandals in western Uttar Pradesh and in 444 mandals in Kerala’s western region.
The broader message was one of organisational expansion alongside an attempt to engage with contemporary social and political questions, from electoral processes and youth unrest to drugs, digital culture and social cohesion.
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Ask News18RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale dismissed concerns over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, stating that lists need to be cleaned up and revised to remove deceased voters and duplicate entries. He argued the process should not be a subject of political confrontation, noting that rolls were cleaned up similarly during former CEC TN Seshan’s tenure.
Ask News18About the Author
Madhuparna Das, Associate Editor (policy) at CNN News 18, has been in journalism for nearly 14 years. She has extensively been covering politics, policy, crime and internal security issues. She has co…Read More
November 05, 2026, 11:05 IST
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