Beginning outreach, Mohan Bhagwat says RSS does not force its ideology on anyone

The RSS kicked off its three-day lectureseries "Bhavishya ka Bharat" in New Delhi on Monday with a talk by its chief Mohan Bhagwat.

A number of celebrities attended including the actors Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Annu Kapoor, Manisha Koirala and Bhagyasree but there was no sign of Congress President Rahul Gandhi.There had been reports that Gandhi would be invited.

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Bhagwat said the RSS did not force its ideology on anyone.

He added that the organisation did not want "Sangh domination", and that there should be a cordial atmosphere for discussion in the country.

Backing up his aforementioned claim, the RSS chief hailed the role played by the Congress in the freedom movement.

He also spoke of BK Hegdewar who he said had been a part of the Congress before founding the RSS.

Bhagwat added that the country needs a leader who can bring about social change, and that "you don't have to die for the country every day but actually live for it".

Bhagwat said the RSS cannot be compared to any other organisation, and that the work it did was unique.

Bhagwat also said that the RSS was working towards nation building and for social welfare.

Bhagwat's talk is being seen as the RSS reaching out to the country'sdifferent social groupings. The opposition however, which had been invited, gave the event a miss.

Bhagwat, in his talk, also added that the RSS was formed to unite Hindu society. He added that the organisation of society has been behind any major transformation.

He added however that the RSS' vision of Hindutva is not meant to oppose anybody.