Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge has launched a pointed critique of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) during the 80th Independence Day celebrations, challenging the organisation’s historical role in the freedom struggle and questioning its adherence to national symbols. Speaking at a gathering in Kalaburagi, Kharge demanded that the RSS identify a specific movement it had participated in during the struggle for independence, asserting that the organisation had not contributed meaningfully to the cause. He further accused the RSS of exacerbating communal tensions following Partition, asking what role it had played in protecting people during the riots. Kharge also highlighted the lack of visible national symbols, such as the Tricolour, in RSS activities, noting that the organisation had not hoisted the flag at its Nagpur headquarters for over five decades until 2002. His comments came as the BJP’s “Har Ghar Tiranga” campaign, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2022, urged citizens to hoist the national flag at their homes ahead of Independence Day. Kharge’s criticisms extended to the legal status of the RSS, arguing that the organisation could not be banned unless it was formally registered. He cited recent statements by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and B.L. Santosh, who claimed the RSS could not be banned due to its unregistered status. Kharge dismissed the BJP’s allegations that the proposed Karnataka Regulation of Use of Government Premises and Public Property Bill, 2026, was targeting the RSS, stating that the bill did not name any specific organisation and sought to provide a statutory framework for regulating public spaces. He emphasized that the legislation applied equally to all organisations, regardless of their registration status, and that the government’s aim was to ensure responsible use of public property. Kharge also accused the BJP of exhibiting “Priyank-phobia,” suggesting that the party opposed the bill without fully understanding its provisions. In response, BJP leader B.L. Santosh defended the RSS, arguing that the organisation’s existence was not contingent on formal registration. Speaking at an event in Bengaluru, he noted that the RSS had operated for decades without being registered and that its influence stemmed from the trust of millions of people. Santosh reiterated that the RSS had supported Hindus during Partition and continued to function independently of bureaucratic processes. He also challenged the notion that India’s independence was solely the result of movements like the Salt Satyagraha or the spinning of the charkha, emphasizing instead the sacrifices of countless individuals who risked their lives in the fight for freedom. Separately, a BJP event in Gurugram on Friday sparked controversy when Union Minister Rao Inderjit Singh criticized the organization of a Partition commemoration as “community-specific.” Singh objected to the absence of local leaders at the event, which was hosted by the Vibhajan Vibhishika Smriti Nyas. He questioned why local representatives had not been invited and suggested that the programme had been transformed into a partisan affair rather than a collective remembrance of history. Singh drew parallels between the event and similar gatherings in other regions, pointing out that prominent leaders such as Sanjay Bhatia in Panipat or Manohar Lal in Karnal would likely have been included if the event had been organized locally. He also highlighted Haryana’s inclusive political history, citing Dharambir Gaba, the city’s first Punjabi MLA, who had garnered support across communities. However, Singh’s speech was abruptly cut off, reportedly due to a lack of formal invitation from the organizers. Subsequent communication between the organizers and the local administration led to an invitation being extended to Singh, though the initial invitation letter failed to include his name. As political tensions continue to escalate, both Kharge and the BJP have framed their arguments around broader issues of identity, representation, and governance. Kharge’s focus on the RSS reflects ongoing debates over the role of civil society organizations in public life, while the Gurugram incident underscores the challenges of organizing politically sensitive events in a diverse and increasingly polarized environment. With the proposed legislation still pending and the RSS’s position in public discourse evolving, the coming weeks will likely see further developments in these contentious discussions.
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