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While the Congress accused the Prime Minister of politicising the national event, the BJP said the opposition party was now detached ‘from Nehru himself’
Addressing the nation on the 79th anniversary of India’s independence, the Prime Minister lauded the RSS on its centennial anniversary, calling its 100-year journey of national service a ‘very proud and glorious’ chapter. (File photo)
In his Independence Day speech from the Red Fort, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday sparked a fresh political debate by lavishing praise on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Addressing the nation on the 79th anniversary of India’s independence, the Prime Minister lauded the RSS on its centennial anniversary, calling its 100-year journey of national service a “very proud and glorious” chapter. He referred to the organisation as the “world’s biggest NGO” and saluted its volunteers for their dedication to “character building” and “nation-building”.
This direct and prominent reference to the RSS from the national podium drew immediate and sharp criticism from the Congress, which accused the Prime Minister of politicising the national event. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh called the mention of the RSS a “blatant breach of the spirit of a constitutional, secular republic.” In a post on X, he alleged it was a “desperate attempt to appease the organisation” in the run-up to the Prime Minister’s 75th birthday next month, hinting at a power struggle within the Sangh. Ramesh further described the speech as “stale, hypocritical, insipid,” and a “bland mix of self-congratulation and selective storytelling”.
Another Congress MP, Manickam Tagore, took to social media to criticise the RSS’s role in India’s history. He posted that the “RSS’s legacy is not of fighting colonialism—but of spreading hate and division among fellow Indians.” He further accused the Prime Minister of “Insulting the memory of real Freedom Fighters for the sake of an organisation that stayed aloof from the struggle.”
The BJP was quick to defend the Prime Minister’s remarks, citing the RSS’s contributions to society and national development. BJP spokespersons argued that the organisation’s century-long record of social work, disaster relief, and character development was a source of national pride. They also pointed to what they claimed were past instances of Congress leaders, including Jawaharlal Nehru, acknowledging the RSS’s role in nation-building, framing the criticism as a politically motivated attack born out of frustration.
In 1963, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru invited the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh to join the Republic Day parade and called it “an organisation of patriots.”As the RSS marks 100 years, it is fitting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi mentions it from the Red Fort.
India’s… pic.twitter.com/95hS64GLpS
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) August 15, 2025
While the BJP views the Sangh as a patriotic, service-oriented organisation, the Congress and other opposition parties continue to portray it as a right-wing, communal force that played no significant role in the freedom struggle.
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d…Read More
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d… Read More
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