Sangh plans September shakha expansion drive; expresses concern over alleged irregularities in Ram Mandir donation counting
Belagavi : “The census and the challenges arising from population imbalance” were among the key national issues discussed at the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s (RSS) annual Akhil Bharatiya Prant Pracharak Baithak, which concluded in Belagavi on Sunday after reviewing the organisation’s centenary outreach, shakha expansion plans and social initiatives. RSS Sarsanghchalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat, Sarkaryavah Dattatreya Hosabale and 226 functionaries attended the meeting, according to a statement issued by the organisation’s Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh, Sunil Ambekar.
The meeting reviewed the training camps organised by the Sangh across the country after March 2026. According to the RSS, 83 Sangh Shiksha Vargs and 12 Karyakarta Vikas Vargs were conducted during the period, training a total of 18,842 swayamsevaks. The training programmes covered the functioning of daily shakhas, the Sangh’s organisational working methods, village development, family awareness, disaster management and environmental issues.
Detailed discussions were held on implementing organisational action plans at the shakha level. The meeting also discussed a major shakha expansion programme proposed for September, indicating an effort to widen the RSS’s grassroots reach across the country.
The Prant Pracharaks reviewed the programmes already completed as part of the Sangh’s centenary year and discussed plans for the remaining scheduled events.
The RSS is marking 100 years of its establishment, with programmes aimed at expanding public participation in social and organisational initiatives.
According to the statement, the Sangh intends to actively involve people who came into contact with the organisation during various centenary programmes in social work and activities connected with its “Panch Parivartan” agenda.
Photo Credit: RSS Handout
The meeting also discussed the travel and outreach programme of Sarsanghachalak Mohan Bhagwat for 2026-27.
Among the broader social and national issues taken up at the meeting were the census and what the RSS described as challenges arising from “population imbalance”.
The statement, however, did not provide details about the specific demographic trends, regions or communities discussed during the deliberations.
The organisation also expressed concern over the growing harmful effects of drug abuse and stressed the need to give priority to de-addiction efforts. Plans for programmes to commemorate the 650th birth anniversary year of Sant Shiromani Ravidas Maharaj were also discussed.
The meeting further expressed grief over alleged irregularities in the counting of offerings collected through donation boxes at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir.
The RSS said it was confident that the Special Investigation Team and police action, initiated at the request of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Nyas, would take the investigation to a decisive conclusion.
The organisation also expected the temple trust to put adequate systems in place to prevent the recurrence of any incident that could hurt the faith and religious sentiments of Ram devotees.
The statement did not provide specific details about the nature or extent of the alleged irregularities, the amount involved or the individuals being investigated.
The annual Prant Pracharak meeting is an important organisational forum of the RSS, bringing together senior functionaries from different regions to review activities, discuss contemporary issues and prepare organisational programmes for the coming months.
