Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday demanded an immediate ban on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), invoking Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s 1948 prohibition on government employees participating in the organization’s activities. Speaking at a press conference on Patel’s 150th birth anniversary—observed as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas—Kharge labeled the RSS ideology as “poison” and accused it of celebrating Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination.
“Sardar Patel united India. He banned government servants from RSS and Jamaat-e-Islami activities. The Modi government lifted this on July 9, 2024—we demand its reinstatement,” Kharge declared. He quoted a February 4, 1948, letter from Patel alleging RSS members distributed sweets after Gandhi’s death, claiming the group’s communal rhetoric created the atmosphere for the assassination. “The government had no option but to act,” he added, referencing the post-assassination ban lifted in 1949 after RSS assurances.
The demand comes amid escalating tensions in Karnataka, where the Congress-led government has restricted state employees from RSS events, prompting accusations of political vendetta from the BJP. Kharge framed the call as a defense of constitutional secularism and public service neutrality.
Also Read: RSS Gurmitkal March Allowed with Ten Strict Conditions in Congress President Kharge’s Constituency
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launched a scathing counterattack, accusing Congress of decades-long neglect of Patel’s legacy. National spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said, “For over 50 years, Congress ignored Sardar Patel—denied him the Bharat Ratna, downplayed his role in unification. Now they weaponize his name against RSS, which courts have repeatedly cleared.”
Poonawalla branded Congress the “Indian Nazi Congress,” alleging it tolerates banned outfits like the Popular Front of India (PFI) while targeting the RSS, a “patriotic, non-political cultural organization.” He cited Supreme Court and high court rulings affirming RSS’s legitimacy and permitting government employees’ participation post-1949.
Historical records confirm Patel imposed the 1948 ban after Gandhi’s assassination by Nathuram Godse, a former RSS member (though the organization denied direct involvement). The ban was lifted in 1949 after RSS pledged loyalty to the Constitution and agreed to function as a cultural body. The July 2024 notification formally revoked remaining restrictions on public servants, aligning with long-standing judicial observations.
As Ekta Diwas celebrations unfolded nationwide—with Prime Minister Narendra Modi leading the Run for Unity in Kevadia—Kharge’s statement has reignited a ideological fault line. Congress insists it upholds Patel’s vision of a secular, united India; the BJP counters that RSS embodies his nationalist ethos. With assembly elections looming in multiple states, the controversy signals a sharpening polarization over history, identity, and institutional freedom.
Also Read: Congress Chief Kharge Mourns Haryana ADGP’s Death, Urges Swift Action