Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat has said that peace in Manipur will not return overnight and that the process will require patience, honest conversations and trust among communities.
Speaking about the situation after his recent visit to the state, Bhagwat said that violence in many parts of Manipur has slowed down. He added that restoring order on the ground may take about a year if efforts continue steadily. However, he warned that healing deeper social and emotional divisions will take longer than controlling law and order problems.
Bhagwat said he met tribal leaders, representatives of social organisations, and groups of young people during his visit. According to him, most stakeholders understood the need for dialogue and reconciliation. He said that differences are visible, but the foundation for peace already exists. He stressed that only dialogue can bring communities that have been in conflict onto a common platform. 
“The law and order issue seems to be slowly easing,” he said. “But bridging minds will take time.” He added that peace-building must begin at the community level with continuous communication.
Bhagwat was speaking at an event marking 100 years of the RSS. During the programme, he referred to similar peace efforts in other northeastern states. He mentioned that the organisation had supported reconciliation in Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya and is currently involved in Nagaland as well. He expressed confidence that Manipur too will eventually return to peace, though he repeated that the process will take time.
He said the RSS runs nearly 100 shakhas in Manipur. He claimed that this presence would help the organisation take part in community-level trust building during the reconciliation process.
Bhagwat also responded to questions about the relationship between the RSS and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He said that the Sangh keeps organisational distance from all political parties, including the BJP. However, he acknowledged that personal associations exist, including with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Bhagwat dismissed speculations of disagreements between the RSS and BJP leadership. He said that narratives that attempt to create suspicion should be ignored. According to him, the Sangh does not hide its relationships with any organisation and remains focused on its broader social responsibilities.
