In Barsoo village, Pulwama district, Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) inaugurated its first RSS‑linked office, the first official address of any RSS affiliate in the Kashmir Valley.
The move follows the 2019 abrogation of Article 370, which removed Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and allowed RSS‑affiliated organisations to operate openly.
Sameer Kuchay, BMS’s Kashmir in‑charge, told reporters that the group already represents about 30,000 labourers across 20 unions and has been active in the Valley before the office opened.
Kuchay, a Muslim himself, emphasised that the RSS is not anti‑Muslim, saying he was never discriminated against and was encouraged to work for nation building.
The opening signals a broader ideological shift, with Kuchay noting that Kashmiris now prefer education over violence and that the RSS is gaining acceptance.
Other RSS affiliates such as Muslim Rashtriya Manch have held gatherings in Srinagar’s Lal Chowk, and the RSS has partnered with the Jammu and Kashmir Development Foundation and Al Rahim Trust to host conferences aimed at promoting social harmony.
Officials say the new office will serve as a hub for coordinating labour initiatives and will likely lead to further outreach programmes across the Valley.