RSS Gathers in Belagavi to Chart Future, Address Centenary Ambitions and Funding Scrutiny

India's influential Hindu nationalist organisation, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), is holding a three-day national meeting in Belagavi, Karnataka, starting July 10. This crucial 'Akhil Bharatiya Prant Pracharak Baithak' will see top leaders, including Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat, review major expansion plans for their local units, called 'shakha', as part of their ongoing centenary celebrations. The meeting is also set to address recent controversies, notably allegations of fund misuse at the Ram temple in Ayodhya and pressing questions about the organisation's transparency and legal status. This high-level gathering comes amidst a period of significant activity for the RSS, which aims to reach 100,000 shakha by Vijayadashami 2026, marking the end of its centenary year. The agenda includes discussions on the nationwide Census and future strategies, but the spotlight remains on the recent public challenge by Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge. Kharge has demanded the RSS register itself, disclose financial details, and clarify its constitutional accountability, sparking a strong debate that Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat has dismissed as mere 'politics'. As the RSS leadership deliberates in Belagavi, the outcomes are expected to set the tone for the organisation's public engagement and political stance in the coming months. Observers will be watching closely to see how the RSS balances its ambitious expansion goals with the increasing calls for greater openness and accountability. The meeting's resolutions will not only shape the Sangh's internal direction but also have ripple effects on India's social and political landscape, especially concerning its core ideology of Hindutva and its relationship with allied organisations.