RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat to tour US, UK, Canada to counter anti-India narrative
Synopsis
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's planned three-nation tour — US, Canada, and UK — is the Sangh's most visible international move in its centenary year, framed explicitly as a counter-narrative mission against global propaganda on India and Hindus. The 'Universal Oneness' event in New York and community engagements in Toronto and London signal a deliberate shift from domestic consolidation to global positioning.
Key Takeaways
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat will visit the United States , Canada , and the United Kingdom as part of the Sangh's centenary global outreach.
The tour has three stated objectives: countering propaganda, spreading the message of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' , and advocating for the rights of Hindus and Indian-origin communities abroad.
Bhagwat will attend the 'Universal Oneness' programme in New York and community leadership events in Toronto and London .
The announcement came after a three-day all-India coordination meeting at Gudilova, Visakhapatnam , attended by 306 of 326 invited delegates, including 49 women .
More than 41,000 people received skill training this year through Laghu Udyog Bharati -run centres, the meeting noted.
Deliberations also covered AI's societal impact , environmental conservation, and expansion plans for 32 Sangh-inspired organisations .
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat is set to visit the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom to counter what the organisation describes as propaganda and misconceptions about India, the Hindu community, and the RSS itself, a senior Sangh leader confirmed on Friday, 21 August. The tour is part of the RSS's global outreach programme in its centenary year.
Three Objectives of the Tour
RSS Joint General Secretary C.R. Mukund, speaking to reporters after the conclusion of a three-day all-India coordination meeting near Visakhapatnam, outlined three primary objectives of the visit. The first is to present a factual and positive perspective on India, Hindu society, and the RSS amid what the organisation characterises as globally prevalent misconceptions.
The second objective, according to Mukund, is to carry the message of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' — the ancient Indian philosophical concept of the world as one family — to diverse societies across the globe. The third is to open dialogue with mainstream communities in these countries regarding the interests and rights of Hindus and people of Indian origin living abroad.
Programme Details
Bhagwat is scheduled to participate in the 'Universal Oneness' programme in New York, along with community leadership events in Toronto and London. The specific dates of the tour have not been publicly announced. RSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale and BJP President Nitin Nabin were among the key office-bearers who attended the coordination meeting from which the tour details emerged.
All-India Coordination Meeting: Key Discussions
The three-day meeting, held at Gudilova near Visakhapatnam, drew 306 delegates out of 326 invited, including 49 women. Deliberations covered the current situation of the country and society, the work of affiliated organisations, future challenges, and upcoming action plans.
The meeting reviewed relief and rehabilitation work carried out during the severe floods in Assam by organisations including Rashtriya Seva Bharati, Bharatiya Kisan Sangh, National Medicos Organisation (NMO), Arogya Bharati, and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Skill Development, AI, and Societal Transformation
The meeting noted that more than 41,000 people received skill training this year through skill development centres operated by Laghu Udyog Bharati in the micro-industry sector. Discussions were also held under the 'Panch Parivartan' (Five Transformations) and 'Kutumb Prabodhan' (Family Awakening) frameworks, with emphasis on strengthening the Indian family system and cultural traditions.
A dedicated session addressed the growing impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on society, with delegates stressing the need to assess AI through an Indian social lens — weighing its benefits alongside potential risks. Environmental conservation, including judicious water use, reduced plastic consumption, and expanding green cover, was also highlighted as a priority for individual families rather than institutional resolutions alone.
Centenary Year and Expansion Plans
With the RSS marking its centenary year, plans were deliberated for extending a nationalist outlook and society-centric approach across more segments of society, as well as expanding the organisational footprint of 32 Sangh-inspired organisations. The Bhagwat tour forms a visible international pillar of that centenary agenda. How the visit is received in the diaspora communities of the US, UK, and Canada will be closely watched.
Point of View
And its timing — the centenary year — is deliberate. But framing a foreign visit primarily as a response to 'propaganda' raises a question mainstream coverage tends to skip: what specific narratives is the Sangh responding to, and are those narratives gaining traction in diaspora communities or in Western policy circles? The three chosen cities — New York, Toronto, London — are not random; they host the largest and most politically active Indian-origin populations in the English-speaking world. Whether the outreach moves beyond the already-converted RSS sympathiser base to genuinely engage 'mainstream societies', as Mukund claimed, will determine whether this is strategic diplomacy or symbolic optics.
NationPress
21 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat visiting the US, UK, and Canada?
Bhagwat's three-nation tour is aimed at countering propaganda and misconceptions about India, the Hindu community, and the RSS, according to RSS Joint General Secretary C.R. Mukund. The visit also seeks to spread the message of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' and to engage with mainstream societies on the rights of Hindus and people of Indian origin living abroad.
What events will Mohan Bhagwat attend during the tour?
Bhagwat is scheduled to participate in the 'Universal Oneness' programme in New York, and community leadership events in Toronto and London. Specific dates for the tour have not been publicly announced.
What is the RSS centenary year and why is it significant?
The RSS was founded in 1925, making 2025 its centenary year. The organisation is marking the milestone with expanded domestic and international activities, including global outreach efforts such as Bhagwat's planned foreign tour.
What was discussed at the RSS all-India coordination meeting in Visakhapatnam?
The three-day meeting at Gudilova near Visakhapatnam covered the current national situation, work of affiliated organisations, Assam flood relief, skill development (with over 41,000 people trained this year), AI's societal impact, environmental conservation, and plans for the Sangh's centenary year. It was attended by 306 of 326 invited delegates, including 49 women.
Who attended the RSS coordination meeting alongside Mohan Bhagwat?
RSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale, BJP President Nitin Nabin, and key office-bearers of the RSS and its affiliated organisations attended the annual meeting, which concluded on 21 August at Gudilova near Visakhapatnam.
