Kerala CM slams PM Modi for praising RSS in I-Day speech
Vijayan said it was a dishonour to the independence struggle that the Prime Minister chose Independence Day itself to eulogize those who worshipped the British. RSS was banned in connection with the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, and Savarkar faced conspiracy charges related to the murder, the chief minister said. Any amount of ridiculous efforts to whitewash an organization like RSS would not work. The conspiracy behind such an exercise was clearer in the Union petroleum ministry's Independence Day poster, featuring Savarkar above Gandhiji, he added.
"It shows the panic of those who fear the history of the freedom struggle," Vijayan said in a statement.
"Indians joined the national independence movement beyond caste, religion, dress and language differences. RSS played the role of bystanders then. They openly opposed the fundamental ideological concepts of the freedom movement. Instead of the unity in diversity that Indian nationalism upholds, they promoted a Hindutva nationalism based on majority communalism.
On Nov 26, 1949, when the Constituent Assembly gave final approval to India's Constitution, the RSS mouthpiece, Organizer, editorialized that Manusmriti should be upheld instead of the Constitution," the chief minister said.
Vijayan said Savarkar boycotted the Independence Day celebrations on Aug 15, 1947. It was this same Savarkar whom the Sangh Parivar is now projecting as a leader of the freedom struggle. RSS, which stood aloof throughout the phases of the freedom struggle, is now engaged in creating false narratives to claim a role in the national movement. "What respect do those who called for observing Aug 14 as a day of Partition horror have for Independence Day?" he asked.
The nation must stand united against any attempt to bury the history of humanity and mutual respect and replace it with hatred, he added.
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