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Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Chief Mohan Bhagwat on Wednesday said that the Battle of Haldighati was not merely a military conflict but a symbol of the protection of India's culture, self-respect and freedom.
Addressing a gathering in Udaipur during the celebrations marking the 450th anniversary of Maharana Pratap's victory in the Battle of Haldighati, Bhagwat said several misconceptions had been spread about the historic battle. Referring to accounts by Mughal historians, he claimed that the Mughal army had been forced to retreat and faced significant difficulties during the conflict. He said the battle sent a strong message across the country that foreign invaders could not subjugate India. Bhagwat described Maharana Pratap's greatest strengths as his character, commitment to truth and ability to unite society beyond divisions of caste, sect and community. The RSS chief said Maharana Pratap's struggle remains an enduring example of resilience and sacrifice, adding that Indian society has always fought to preserve its faith, culture and national identity. He stressed the need for unity and social harmony, saying that while differences of opinion may exist, society comes together whenever the nation faces a crisis. Bhagwat further said that despite having limited resources compared to Mughal emperor Akbar's vast empire and military strength, Maharana Pratap was never truly defeated because he stood for truth, possessed strong character and enjoyed the trust of society. Calling upon people to imbibe Maharana Pratap's ideals of courage, self-respect, sacrifice and patriotism, Bhagwat said modern India must strive to become more united, self-reliant and organised. Concluding his address, he said the message of Haldighati represents the triumph of righteousness over evil, justice over injustice and self-respect over subjugation. Earlier on Tuesday in Kerala, Mohan Bhagwat said he did not need to respond to Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge's criticism of the 'registration of the RSS' remark. He added that the Sangh was accustomed to such "political gimmicks." Bhagwat argued that the Hindu religion was also not registered. He was responding to a question at an event about the Karnataka government's charge of RSS's activities being "secretive", demanding that it get registered. "I don't need to respond. There are so many unregistered things going on, and we are not secretive. We are working in the open. We are calling people and telling them about the Sangh. This is politics, and all these gimmicks are being tried. We are used to it. After 10-15 years of the Sangh's existence, we had to face all these things. We are used to it," Bhagwat said. Drawing an analogy, the RSS chief highlighted that many fundamental aspects of society are not formally registered. "Hindu Dharma is not registered. Many things are not registered. The government banned us twice, and those bans were lifted once by court order and again through Satyagraha. So the government knows the RSS exists. If they banned the RSS, it means they recognised its existence," Bhagwat remarked. (ANI)
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