Is it fair for the VP of India to be openly praising the RSS while sitting in a chair where he’s expected to be neutral, asks TMC’s Saket Gokhale
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI – Concerns are being raised over the conduct of Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar for blocking criticism of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and himself praising the ideological parent of the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) in the Upper House.
On Tuesday evening, Dhankar boasted of being a member of the RSS and showered praises on it calling it a “devoted” and “patriot” organisation. “You should stop that exercise (criticism of RSS). I have said this,” he told opposition members in the House.
Gokhale, who is also Trinamool Congress (TMC) spokesman, described Dhankhar’s statement as “extremely shocking”.
“It is well-documented fact that the RSS is an organisation that has been banned in the past for subversive activities. It is a communal organisation and also, for the longest time, refused to accept the Constitution of India,” said Gokhale.
“Is it fair for the VP of India to be openly praising the RSS while sitting in a chair where he’s expected to be neutral,” he asked.
“It is extremely concerning and DANGEROUS that criticism of the RSS even by MPs is now being banned under the Modi Govt because the Chairman is a proud member of the RSS which he has openly admitted,” Gokhale posted on X.
Gokhale also pointed out that in the ongoing session, Dhankhar expunged and removed parts of the speech of Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge where he had criticised the RSS.
Addressing the House on Monday, Congress chief Kharge said the RSS has infiltrated educational institutions, including universities and the NCERT, by appointing its members as vice-chancellors and professors.
During a heated exchange on the motion of thanks to the President’s address, Kharge stated: “All our institutions have been captured by one organisation,” and added that the RSS and the BJP have together destroyed the country’s institutions.
Journalist Anil Shard also questioned Dhankhar’s conduct saying that it damages the dignity and fairness of the Rajya Sabha chairman.
“Honourable Vice President is saying that he is the Eklavya of RSS. There is nothing wrong in this but he may not have considered the dignity of the post from where he is saying this. He is the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. He sits on the topmost chair. His responsibility is to be impartial. But what does this (impartial) word mean?,” said Sharda.
The RSS has been banned thrice. Former Union Home Minister Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel had described the RSS as a ‘forces of hate and violence”. In 1948, the Hindutva organisation was banned following the assassination of Mahtam Gandhi.
A government statement issued on February 4, 1948, by the Union Home Ministry headed by Patel had said it was banning the RSS “to root out the forces of hate and violence that are at work in our country and imperil the freedom of the nation and darken her fair name”. The communique had further stated: “Undesirable and even dangerous activities have been carried on by members of the Sangh. It has been found that in several parts of the country individual members of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh have indulged in acts of violence involving arson, robbery, dacoity, and murder and have collected illicit arms and ammunition.”
In a letter written to Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee, Patel observed: “There is no doubt in my mind the extreme section of the Hindu Mahasabha was involved in this conspiracy. The activities of the RSS constituted a clear threat to the existence of the Government and the State.”
