Bhubaneswar: After Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in his Independence Day speech, opposition leaders criticized such glorification of the Hindu outfit. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav took a swipe at the RSS stating that they are “swadeshi by words but foreigner by heart”.
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi also hit out at the praise for RSS, claiming that the PM’s remarks were a breach of constitutional values and an attempt to appease the Sangh.
Glorifying the RSS in an Independence Day speech is an insult to the freedom struggle. The RSS and its ideological allies served as British foot soldiers. They never joined the fight for independence and hated Gandhi more than they ever opposed the British.
Happy…
— Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) August 15, 2025
Yadav, while addressing reporters in Lucknow, said at the first convention of the BJP, it was decided that they would follow a secular and socialist path. He claimed that the Sangh Parivar people’s path was not the same. “Yeh muh se toh swadeshi hai lekin mann se videshi hai (swadeshi by words but foreigner by heart),”he said.
Earlier in the day, PM Modi lauded RSS’s 100-year-journey, calling it the “largest NGO” in the world.
“A hundred years ago, a movement was born, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). For a century, this organisation has dedicated itself to the welfare of the nation. Through service, dedication, organisation, and unparalleled discipline, the RSS has played a unique role in nation-building. In a way, the RSS is the biggest NGO of the world. It has a history of 100 years of dedication,” Modi said.
#WATCH | PM Narendra Modi says, “Today, I would like to proudly mention that 100 years ago, an organisation was born – Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). 100 years of service to the nation is a proud, golden chapter. With the resolve of ‘vyakti nirman se rashtra nirman’, with the… pic.twitter.com/zGMb8H0arw
— ANI (@ANI) August 15, 2025
“Insult to freedom struggle…”
Reacting to Modi’s speech, Owaisi took to social media and said Modi’s reference to RSS during the I-Day speech was an insult to the freedom struggle.
“Glorifying the RSS in an Independence Day speech is an insult to the freedom struggle. The RSS and its ideological allies served as British foot soldiers. They never joined the fight for independence and hated Gandhi more than they ever opposed the British. Happy #IndependenceDay to all,” he wrote on X.
Glorifying the RSS in an Independence Day speech is an insult to the freedom struggle. The RSS and its ideological allies served as British foot soldiers. They never joined the fight for independence and hated Gandhi more than they ever opposed the British.
Happy…
— Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) August 15, 2025
“PM Modi has once again reminded us why it is necessary to learn real history and honour the real heroes. If we don’t, the day isn’t far when cowardice will be sold to us as the highest form of bravery. RSS rejects the values of inclusive nationalism that motivated our freedom fighters. The ideology of Hindutva believes in exclusion and is antithetical to the values of our Constitution. Modi could have gone to Nagpur to praise RSS as a Swayamsevak, why did he have to do it from the Red Fort as the Prime Minister? China remains our biggest external threat. But the greater danger lies within — the hate and division spread by the Sangh Parivar. We must defeat all such forces to truly safeguard our freedom,” he added.
From the ramparts of the Red Fort, highlighted the role played by the RSS in nation building. This year is special as we mark a hundred years since the RSS was founded.@RSSorg pic.twitter.com/H4HLHLJHrN
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 15, 2025
‘RSS doesn’t have any histiory…’
“RSS doesn’t have any history. The Congress party has a longer history in this country. We all know that they (RSS) did not hoist the national flag for a long time, and Vajpayee ji took an initiative on this issue. It is their party agenda and I don’t want to comment on it now…Congress party has always protected the Constitution and the country…,” said Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar.
‘The PM was tired today. Soon he will be retired’
“The most troubling element of the PM’s speech today was his name-checking of the RSS from the ramparts of the Red Fort — a blatant breach of the spirit of a constitutional, secular republic. It is nothing but a desperate attempt to appease the organisation in the run-up to his 75th birthday next month. Decisively weakened after the events of June 4th, 2024, he is now at their complete mercy and reliant on Mohan Bhagwat’s good offices for the extension of his tenure post-September. This politicisation of Independence Day for personal and organisational gain is deeply corrosive to our democratic ethos. The PM was tired today. Soon he will be retired,” Congress leader, Jairam Ramesh said.
Countering the attack from Opposition, Union Minister G Kishan Reddy told ANI: “… Whatever people may say, RSS is 100% a patriotic organisation working for the benefit of the country. It is the largest non-political organisation in the world…”
The PM’s speech from the ramparts of the Red Fort today was stale, hypocritical, insipid, and troubling.
The same recycled slogans about Viksit Bharat, Atmanirbhar Bharat, and “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas” have been heard year after year with little to show in terms of measurable…
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) August 15, 2025
