NEW DELHI, Aug 15: The opposition has reacted with ‘retirement benefits’ jibes after the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s praise of the Rashtriya Swyamsevak Sangh (RSS) – the ruling BJP’ ideological mentor – in his Independence Day address on Friday.
The Prime Minister’s reference and praise infuriated the Congress, which pointed out the RSS had refused to hoist the national flag for 52 years. The party also declared Mr Modi’s RSS remarks ‘overtures’ to an organisation seen as controlling the ruling party and playing a key role in appointments to senior posts in the government, including the PM.
“The PM was tired today. Soon, he will be retired,” Congress communication chief Jairam Ramesh said on X, and criticised the Prime Minister’s speech as “stale, hypocritical, insipid.” “It is nothing but a desperate attempt to appease the organisation in the run-up to his 75th birthday next month,” he said, referring to RSS boss Mohan Bhagwat’s remarks – that veteran leaders should step back when they turn 75 and give the younger generation a chance.
Many took that remark to be aimed at Mr Modi, who will turn 75 in September. The BJP has said no such rule exists; in March Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis pointed out one member of the union cabinet is over ‘limit’ – 80-year-old Bihar leader Jitan Ram Manjhi, who is the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises Minister. Others, including Mr Modi are within a year or two.
Addressing the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort, Mr Modi called the RSS ‘the world’s biggest non-governmental organisation.’ That was his first ever reference to the RSS in any formal Independence Day talk. The RSS marks its 100th anniversary this year. “Today I want to mention one thing with great pride. 100 years ago an organisation was born – the RSS. Its 100 years of national service has been a very proud and glorious page (in India’s history),” Mr Modi, who has been an RSS pracharak in the past, declared.
“For the past 100 years, RSS workers have dedicated their lives to fulfil the resolve of ‘vyakti nirman’ (character development) and ‘rashtra nirman’ (nation-building) …” he said. Like his first reference to the RSS in the I-Day address, it was also the first time Mr Modi had visited the RSS headquarter in Nagpur in March, last year, since he became the Prime Minister 11 years ago.
The Congress’ Salman Khurshid also hit out at Mr Modi over his RSS remark. “There are two views about the RSS. One is our view… and the other is that of PM Modi and his allies. There is a huge difference between the two… so I believe we should not touch that issue on such an auspicious day (i.e., Independence Day) …” he said.
“They didn’t hoist the flag for 52 years. They didn’t contribute to the freedom movement. They opposed Mahatma Gandhi’s Quit India Movement. They urged people to join the British Army to fight the Azad Hind Fauj. So, they had no contribution to the freedom movement…”
Mr Modi’s praise of the RSS was also vigorously condemned by AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, who accused the Prime Minister of dishonouring the freedom struggle and politicising the day. “The ideology of Hindutva believes in exclusion and is antithetical to the values of our Constitution. Modi could have gone to Nagpur to praise the RSS as a ‘swayamsevak‘, or worker. Why did he have to do it from the Red Fort as the Prime Minister?” he asked on X.
The CPI(M) also hit out. Party General Secretary MA Baby said, “It is deeply regrettable that PM Modi, in his Independence Day address from the Red Fort, chose to praise the RSS – an organisation with a dubious historical record and an organisation that had no role whatsoever in freedom struggles… consistently sought to undermine national unity along religious lines…”
(Manas Dasgupta)