Hailing 100 years of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) as a "very proud and glorious" journey, Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the service of the volunteers in his Independence Day speech.
Addressing the nation from the Red Fort on the occasion of Independence Day, Modi said the country is proud of the 100 years of "dedicated and glorious" journey of the RSS. "Today I want to mention one thing with great pride that 100 years ago an organisation was born, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. Its 100 years of national service has been a very proud and glorious page," he said.
The prime minister observd that service, dedication, organisation, and unparalleled discipline are the identity of the RSS, "which is in a way the world's biggest non-government organisation (NGO)".
Opposition hits back
Modi drew flak from the opposition for his praise of RSS, calling it a moment that the PM chose to 'dishonour the memory of our martyrs'.
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) said it is "deeply regrettable" that Prime Minister Narendra Modi chose to praise the RSS in his Independence Day speech, and called it an organisation with a "dubious historical record".
Hitting back strongly, Congress said it is a "breach" of the spirit of the constitutional and secular republic and a desperate attempt to appease the Sangh in the run-up to his 75th birthday.
"The PM was tired today. Soon he will be retired," Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said and slammed the prime minister's speech from the ramparts of the Red Fort as "stale, hypocritical, insipid".
CPI(M) General Secretary MA Baby expressed his disappointment and said it is "deeply regrettable" that PM Modi chose to praise the RSS in his Independence Day speech. "An organisation which had no role whatsoever in these struggles and has consistently sought to undermine national unity along religious lines," he said.
"Glorifying the RSS in an Independence Day speech is an insult to the freedom struggle. The RSS and its ideological allies served as British foot soldiers. They never joined the fight for independence and hated Gandhi more than they ever opposed the British," tweeted AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on X.
Taking a jibe at Modi's speech, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said they are "swadeshi by words but foreigner by heart".
RSS will be completing 100 years of its foundation on this Vijayadashmi and has planned to organise a series of events, including more than 1 lakh 'Hindu Sammelans', across the country to mark its centenary year.