After Narendra Modi for the first time on Friday mentioned BJP’s ideological parent RSS in his Independence Day speech, the Congress said it was the PM’s attempt to block his own retirement.
"PM Modi - to please RSS - is reportedly blocking the plan for his own retirement on Sept 17, 2025," Congress MP Manickam Tagore posted on X.
PM Modi hailed 100 years of the right-wing organisation as a "very proud and glorious" journey of the "world's biggest NGO".
The RSS will complete 100 years of its establishment on Vijaya Dashami this year in October.
"For the past 100 years, the RSS swayamsevaks (volunteers) have been dedicating their lives to fulfilling the resolve of 'vyakti nirman' (character development) and 'rashtra nirman' (nation building) for the welfare of 'matribhoomi' (motherland)," the Prime Minister said.
According to Tagore, the RSS did not play a direct role in the independence struggle and stayed away from mass protests like the Civil Disobedience Movement and Quit India Movement. “RSS’s legacy is not of fighting colonialism — but of spreading hate and division among fellow Indians. It was this very ideology of hate that took away Mahatma Gandhi from us,” the Congress leader said.
Congress leader Salman Khurshid there here are two views regarding the RSS in this country. "One is ours, and the other is that of Prime Minister Modi and his supporters. There is a huge difference between the two. I believe he should not have raised this topic on a day dedicated to national unity, but since he has done so, I will not take it any further…” he told ANI.
'Not secular and socialist'
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said, "He is the Prime Minister from the BJP. When the first convention of the Bharatiya Janata Party was held, they decided that he would follow a secular and socialist path. But the path of the people of the Sangh Parivar is not secular and socialist. Yeh muh se toh swadeshi hai lekin mann se videshi hai..."
'Over-promising and under-achieving'
PM Modi announced a demographic mission to protect the country from the dangers posed by illegal immigrants. In a post on X, the Trinamool Congress' Rajya Sabha deputy leader Sagarika Ghose also accused the prime minister of "over-promising and under-achieving".
"As usual, (PM) Narendra Modi uses his Independence Day speech to target a new 'enemy'. After Andolanjeevis etc now 'infiltrators' are the new target. Again, new 'missions' announced while targeting past governments," Ghose said in a post on X.
' Prime Minister disappoints every time'
RJD leader Manoj Jha said, "In the last 11 years, when the Prime Minister speaks from the ramparts of the Red Fort, we hope that he will speak like the Prime Minister of the country, without malice, prejudice, or bias. The Prime Minister disappoints every time... It is Independence Day, and if there had been a discussion on the role of the RSS, we would have been very happy. It is a cultural organisation, and the Prime Minister of the country should evaluate its role in the freedom struggle... Today, it has become difficult to distinguish whether it is an election speech or an address to the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort."
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