Karnataka Congress leader BK Hariprasad on Saturday launched a sharp attack on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), describing it as the “Indian Taliban” and accusing it of creating disharmony in the country. His remarks came a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his Independence Day address from the Red Fort, praised the RSS for its contribution to society. Responding to the Prime Minister’s speech, Hariprasad alleged that the organisation was playing a divisive role and insisted that it was dangerous for peace in India. He went so far as to claim that the Prime Minister’s acknowledgment of the RSS from such an important platform was deeply concerning, particularly because, in his view, the RSS undermines national unity rather than strengthens it.
Speaking to news agency ANI, Hariprasad directly equated the RSS with extremist groups, saying that their actions disrupt the harmony of society. He accused the organisation of spreading an agenda that does not align with the values of inclusivity and communal peace, asserting that its ideology mirrors the kind of hardline thinking associated with groups like the Taliban. According to him, praising such an organisation during a significant occasion like Independence Day sends the wrong message to the people of the country and misrepresents the spirit of national unity and sacrifice.
The senior Congress leader also raised questions about the legal standing and financial transparency of the RSS. He argued that it was unacceptable for an organisation of such size and influence to function without being registered under Indian law. Hariprasad pointed out that, as per the Constitution, any non-governmental organisation operating in India is required to be registered, yet the RSS has continued its activities without fulfilling this obligation. He expressed suspicion about the sources of its funding, claiming that the lack of accountability made it difficult to trust the organisation’s intentions. He further added that the RSS had no significant role in India’s independence movement, questioning whether any of its members could be found among those who fought for freedom.
In addition to these criticisms, Hariprasad accused both the RSS and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of distorting historical facts to suit their political narrative. He alleged that the two organisations were deliberately attempting to rewrite the story of India’s Partition by shifting blame onto the Congress. His comments were in response to a new NCERT module that attributes responsibility for the Partition to Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the Congress, and then Viceroy Lord Mountbatten. The Congress leader argued that this portrayal was misleading and politically motivated. Referring to historical figures, he said it was Fazlul Huq and Syama Prasad Mookerjee who first introduced the resolution for Bengal’s Partition, while Jinnah and Savarkar supported the idea of separate states for Hindus and Muslims. In his view, blaming the Congress for Partition was nothing but a calculated attempt to tarnish the party’s legacy.
Prime Minister Modi, however, had presented a very different picture of the RSS in his Independence Day speech. He described the organisation, which will complete 100 years later this year, as the “world’s largest NGO” with a history of selfless service and nation-building. According to him, RSS volunteers had dedicated themselves to the ideals of character development and national progress for the betterment of the motherland. The Prime Minister, himself a former RSS pracharak, praised the organisation’s century-long journey, calling it proud and glorious.
Despite the Prime Minister’s praise, the Congress has consistently rejected the idea of crediting the RSS with positive contributions to India’s history. Leaders such as Manickam Tagore and Supriya Shrinate reiterated the party’s long-standing criticism that the RSS had no role in the independence struggle. Instead, they argued, it actively propagated hatred and division within society. They maintained that the Congress, in contrast, had borne the weight of the freedom movement, while the RSS kept itself away from the sacrifices made for independence.
The sharp exchanges over the RSS come at a symbolic moment, as the organisation prepares to celebrate its centenary in October this year, coinciding with the festival of Vijaya Dashami. With the BJP showcasing the RSS as a force for national service and the Congress denouncing it as divisive, the debate over its legacy has become more intense, highlighting the continuing clash between two contrasting visions of India’s history and future.
