The organisation projects itself as patriotic and questions the nationalism of others despite its own ‘controversial history,’ the Congress leader said
NEW DELHI — Describing the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) as the “most unpatriotic and anti-national organisation in the history of India,” Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge said the outfit should be brought under a legal registration framework.
Intensifying his criticism of the RSS, Kharge said it projects itself as a patriotic organisation and questions the nationalism of others despite its own “controversial history.”
Kharge was speaking at a conference titled ‘Why Registration of the RSS is Necessary’ in the national capital. The conference was organised by Samajwadi Sangam, a socio-political forum.
He argued that the RSS has long positioned itself as the guardian of nationalism while failing to uphold the values it claims to represent.
“The RSS has no moral authority to issue certificates of patriotism. In my view, it is the most anti-national organisation in the country’s history,” he said.
The Congress leader added that his government is examining ways to ensure that organisations operating on such a large scale are brought under a transparent legal framework.
“They believe they are the biggest patriotic organisation and keep issuing certificates of patriotism to others. But the truth is that the RSS is the most unpatriotic and anti-national organisation in India’s history,” Kharge said.
Kharge said he had written to RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat shortly after taking charge as a minister in Karnataka, asking the organisation to register itself. He claimed that despite several weeks having passed, he had received no response.
“I knew he would not respond, but this is only the beginning,” he said.
Bhagwat dismissed the demand as a political exercise.
“I don’t need to respond. There are many unregistered institutions and traditions. We are not secretive. We work openly, invite people and tell them about the Sangh. This is politics, and these gimmicks have been tried before. We are used to it,” Bhagwat said.
The Congress leader warned, however, that if the RSS continues to function without registration, the Karnataka government could introduce legislation to make registration mandatory.
“If necessary, we will bring legislation in Karnataka to bring the RSS under the ambit of the law. They take advantage of loopholes to avoid registration. If they want to function peacefully in Karnataka, they will have to register. If they do not comply with the law, they will face action, including a ban,” Kharge said.
Referring to India’s freedom movement, Kharge alleged that the RSS had historically opposed both the Constitution and the national flag. He also claimed that the organisation had held “150 rallies at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan against the Constitution.”
Senior advocate Prashant Bhushan, who also addressed the event, said the debate over the RSS’s legal status has become an important constitutional issue.
“The expansion of the RSS can only be countered through the expansion of constitutionalism,” Bhushan said.
The RSS, founded in 1925, has been banned three times in its history — following Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination in 1948, during the Emergency in 1975, and after the demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992. The last ban was lifted in 1993.
