Senior Congress Leader Calls RSS 'Indian Taliban'

A fresh political row has erupted after senior Congress leader BK Hariprasad likened the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to the "Indian Taliban". His remarks came in response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Independence Day address, in which the PM hailed the RSS as the world's largest non-governmental organisation devoted to nation-building.

Hariprasad, a former Rajya Sabha MP, sharply criticised the Prime Minister for praising the RSS from the Red Fort. "They are trying to disturb peace in the country. I equate the RSS with the Taliban. They are Indian Taliban, and the PM is appreciating them from the Red Fort," he told ANI.

The Congress leader also questioned the organisation's financial transparency and legal standing. "It's a shame that RSS is not a registered body. We don't know where they get their funds from. Any NGO in India must be registered under the Constitution, so why not RSS?" he asked.

Allegations of Historical Revisionism

Hariprasad accused the BJP and RSS of "twisting history". He claimed that the first formal resolution for Partition was moved in Bengal under AK Fazlul Huq, with Syama Prasad Mookerjee-founder of the Jana Sangh-playing a role. "BJP and RSS are masters of rewriting history. They are trying to pin Partition on Congress when leaders like Jinnah and Savarkar themselves argued for separate states," he asserted.

Modi's Counter-Narrative

In contrast, Modi's Independence Day speech portrayed the RSS as a patriotic force. "With the aim of welfare of Maa Bharati, swayamsevaks dedicated their lives to the service of the motherland. The RSS is the biggest NGO in the world, with 100 years of dedication," the PM declared.