'RSS Should Be Banned': Mallikarjun Kharge’s Strong Statement Sparks Political Row
In a strong political statement that has reignited a long-standing ideological battle, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday, October 31, 2025, said that “in my personal opinion, RSS should be banned .” His remarks came during a press conference held on the dual occasion of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel ’s birth anniversary and former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi ’s death anniversary. The Congress chief used the platform to respond sharply to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s comments about Patel and the Congress, citing historical evidence to counter what he called distortions of India’s political legacy.
At a commemorative event in New Delhi, Kharge was joined by Senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi to honor Indira Gandhi on her 41st death anniversary. The trio paid floral tributes to the former Prime Minister, reaffirming her enduring legacy within the Congress party and Indian history.
Rejecting these assertions, Kharge accused the BJP of trying to “rewrite history” and deliberately sow division between Nehru and Patel. He said, “They always tried to portray a rift between India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Patel when they had great ties and both had praised each other.”
Kharge cited historical records to support his claim, pointing out that Nehru and Patel shared mutual admiration for each other’s leadership and vision. “Nehru hailed Patel for shaping India’s unity and Patel called Nehru an ideal for the country,” he added, reaffirming that both leaders worked together to lay the foundation of modern India.
By recalling Patel’s words, Kharge aimed to counter the BJP’s narrative of claiming Patel as a symbolic figure aligned with their ideological leanings. He stressed that Patel, a staunch Congressman, had opposed extremist ideologies that threatened India’s secular and democratic framework.
This was not the first time the Congress or its leaders had accused the RSS of fostering social polarization. However, Kharge’s direct call for a ban reflected a bold escalation in rhetoric, especially at a time when political tensions between the ruling BJP and the opposition are running high.
He further accused the Congress of carrying a “colonial mindset,” stating, “The country is removing every trace of colonial mindset.”
Kharge’s strong response signals the Congress’s intent to reclaim its historical figures and resist attempts by the BJP to appropriate them for political symbolism.
The Congress leader reiterated that distortion of historical facts undermines India’s democratic values. He accused the BJP and RSS of manipulating the memory of national heroes for political gain, while the Congress, he said, continues to uphold their true ideals.
Kharge’s Tribute to Patel and Indira Gandhi
Mallikarjun Kharge began by paying homage to two towering figures of Indian history — Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the “Iron Man of India,” and Indira Gandhi, the “Iron Lady.” He emphasized that both leaders had made monumental contributions to building and safeguarding India’s unity. “This is the history of the Congress and its contribution,” Mr. Kharge stated, asserting that both Patel and Indira embodied the party’s commitment to national integration and strength.At a commemorative event in New Delhi, Kharge was joined by Senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi to honor Indira Gandhi on her 41st death anniversary. The trio paid floral tributes to the former Prime Minister, reaffirming her enduring legacy within the Congress party and Indian history.
Countering PM Modi’s Remarks on Patel and Nehru
Mr. Kharge’s remarks came in direct response to Prime Minister Modi’s speech delivered earlier the same day on Sardar Patel’s birth anniversary. PM Modi had claimed that while Patel aimed to integrate the entire region of Kashmir into India, Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first Prime Minister, had prevented him from doing so. Modi further accused the Congress of inheriting a “slave mentality” from the British, asserting that India was now working to eliminate traces of the colonial mindset.Rejecting these assertions, Kharge accused the BJP of trying to “rewrite history” and deliberately sow division between Nehru and Patel. He said, “They always tried to portray a rift between India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Patel when they had great ties and both had praised each other.”
Kharge cited historical records to support his claim, pointing out that Nehru and Patel shared mutual admiration for each other’s leadership and vision. “Nehru hailed Patel for shaping India’s unity and Patel called Nehru an ideal for the country,” he added, reaffirming that both leaders worked together to lay the foundation of modern India.
Patel’s Letter Criticizing the RSS
In a significant historical reference, Kharge quoted a letter written by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel to Syama Prasad Mookerjee, where Patel, then India’s Home Minister, held the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) morally accountable for the atmosphere that led to Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination in 1948. According to Kharge, this letter clearly demonstrated Patel’s disapproval of the RSS’s ideology and actions.By recalling Patel’s words, Kharge aimed to counter the BJP’s narrative of claiming Patel as a symbolic figure aligned with their ideological leanings. He stressed that Patel, a staunch Congressman, had opposed extremist ideologies that threatened India’s secular and democratic framework.
“RSS Should Be Banned” — Kharge’s Personal Opinion
When asked by reporters whether the RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) should be banned, Kharge made a statement that instantly drew national attention. “It is my personal opinion, it should be done,” he declared. Elaborating on his stance, he said that “most of the issues and law and order problems are arising because of the BJP-RSS.”This was not the first time the Congress or its leaders had accused the RSS of fostering social polarization. However, Kharge’s direct call for a ban reflected a bold escalation in rhetoric, especially at a time when political tensions between the ruling BJP and the opposition are running high.
BJP’s Ideological Counter and Ongoing Rift
The BJP has long portrayed itself as the political successor to Sardar Patel’s vision of unity, often contrasting it with what it claims were Nehru’s “mistakes,” particularly regarding Kashmir. In his latest remarks, Prime Minister Modi said, “Sardar Patel wanted to unite the entire Kashmir, just as he did with other princely states, into India, but then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru did not allow it to happen.”He further accused the Congress of carrying a “colonial mindset,” stating, “The country is removing every trace of colonial mindset.”
Kharge’s strong response signals the Congress’s intent to reclaim its historical figures and resist attempts by the BJP to appropriate them for political symbolism.
Congress Reclaims Historical Legacy
Kharge’s remarks also sought to reframe the Congress narrative around Patel and Nehru’s collaboration, underlining that both leaders played complementary roles in India’s early years of independence. By invoking Indira Gandhi and Patel together, Kharge positioned them as embodiments of the Congress’s long-standing legacy of resilience and unity.The Congress leader reiterated that distortion of historical facts undermines India’s democratic values. He accused the BJP and RSS of manipulating the memory of national heroes for political gain, while the Congress, he said, continues to uphold their true ideals.
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