RSS Leader Indresh Kumar Accuses Congress of “Spewing Venom” after Priyank Kharge’s Remarks

A heated political controversy unfolded on October 20, 2025, as Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader Indresh Kumar sharply rebuked Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge for his critical remarks against the organisation. Speaking from New Delhi, Kumar accused the Congress party of habitually “spewing venom” about the RSS, escalating a public spat that began when Kharge urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to ban RSS activities in government schools, colleges, and state-owned temples. This clash, rooted in Karnataka’s polarised political landscape, reflects broader tensions between the ruling Congress and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the RSS’s ideological ally. Kharge’s comments, made in Bengaluru, have reignited debates over the RSS’s role in public institutions, with the organisation defending its patriotic credentials while critics label its influence as divisive.

Kharge, a prominent Congress leader and son of party president Mallikarjun Kharge, sparked the row by arguing that RSS gatherings, or “baithaks”, promote “brainwashing” of young minds, detrimental to national and societal progress. In a letter to Siddaramaiah, he called for prohibiting such activities on government premises, suggesting they be confined to private spaces. Kharge later reported receiving threats, prompting a second letter urging a ban on government employees’ participation in RSS events. The RSS, founded in 1925 and known for its vast network of volunteers, has long been a lightning rod in Indian politics, briefly banned after Mahatma Gandhi’s 1948 assassination. Its influence in Karnataka, a state that flipped to Congress in 2023, remains contentious, with shakhas (daily drills) often held in public spaces to instill discipline and nationalism.

Kumar, a senior RSS executive, countered that Congress’s attacks stem from a legacy of division rather than unity. “It is the country’s continuing misfortune that instead of fostering freedom, Congress has caused division,” he said, urging the party to better understand the RSS’s social service contributions, from disaster relief to education. The BJP, led in Karnataka by B.Y. Vijayendra, amplified the criticism, accusing Kharge of an “anti-Hindu mindset” and likening Congress’s tactics to its authoritarian Emergency era of 1975. Vijayendra warned that targeting officials for RSS involvement could backfire, citing public backlash against divisive politics. The exchange has fuelled social media debates, with hashtags like #RSSBan trending, reflecting Karnataka’s charged atmosphere ahead of local elections.

Also Read: Pawan Kalyan Hails RSS Centenary for Discipline, Service, and Nation-First Dedication

As Diwali celebrations light up Bengaluru, this controversy casts a shadow over festive unity, highlighting the deep ideological divide between the RSS-BJP combine and Congress. While the RSS insists its activities promote cultural pride, Kharge’s stance underscores concerns about secular governance in public institutions. Political analysts see this as a precursor to intensified electoral battles, with Karnataka’s diverse electorate caught between competing visions of nationalism and pluralism. Calls for dialogue persist, but the acrimony suggests more confrontations loom, testing the state’s political harmony.

Also Read: 'Proud Swayamsevak' Amit Shah Lauds RSS for 'Nation-Building', Shaping Leaders