‘Blatant distortion of history': Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan questions Modi for praising RSS on I-Day
'The attempt to portray the RSS, which was banned following Gandhi's assassination and VD Savarkar, who stood trial in the murder conspiracy, as major contributors of Indian independence is a blatant distortion of history,' the Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader said.
Choosing Independence Day to glorify those who had served the British amounted to an insult to the freedom struggle, The New Indian Express quoted the Kerala chief minister as saying.
Vijayan said that such moves could not whitewash the RSS, which he alleged carries 'a poisonous legacy of divisive politics', ANI reported.
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen chief Asaduddin Owaisi also criticised Modi for mentioning the Hindutva organisation during his Independence Day address, PTI reported.
Owaisi said he believed it was a 'disrespect to the country's freedom struggle', alleging that the RSS did not participate in it and, in fact, helped the British.
'The RSS has always opposed inclusive nationalism, which was the foundation laid by our ancestors,' Owaisi said. 'When PM Modi visited the RSS headquarters, I did not oppose it because he himself is a member of the RSS and will always be. But when he is speaking as the Prime Minister, he should avoid such things'.
VIDEO | Reacting to the mention of the RSS in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's I-Day speech, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi says, "Every Prime Minister addresses the people on Independence Day to tell them what the government has done for them. But PM Narendra Modi spoke about the… pic.twitter.com/IiJDXmm1q2
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 16, 2025
In his speech on Friday, the prime minister claimed that the RSS was the biggest non-governmental organisation in the world. 'It has a history of 100 years of dedication,' he said.
The RSS is the parent organisation of the Bharatiya Janata Party.
'Today, I would like to proudly mention that 100 years ago, an organisation was born – Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh,' he said. '100 years of service to the nation is a proud, golden chapter.'
He said that members of the organisation dedicate their lives to the welfare of the country.
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