RSS Rejects Kharge’s Call for Ban During Centenary Planning

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has officially rejected Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge‘s recent demand for a nationwide ban on the organization. The RSS argues that Kharge’s call is unwarranted and overlooks the group’s longstanding acceptance among the public. This strong response came from RSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale during a press conference held on the second day of the All India Executive Board meeting in Jabalpur, which is focused on preparing for the Sangh’s centenary celebrations.

Hosabale, addressing reporters in Madhya Pradesh, emphasized the RSS’s commitment to nation-building and questioned the rationale behind imposing a ban. “There must be a reason to impose a ban,” he stated. “What would be gained by proscribing an organization deeply engaged in societal upliftment? The people of India have long embraced the RSS as their own.”

The three-day conclave, which commenced on October 30, 2023, was inaugurated by RSS Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat and Hosabale, who paid floral tributes to Bharat Mata. This meeting is significant, marking the first such gathering in Jabalpur in 41 years and attended by over 400 senior functionaries, including all six joint general secretaries and provincial leaders from 11 zones and 46 provinces.

Discussions during the meeting are primarily focused on the upcoming centenary of the RSS, which was founded on Vijayadashami in 1925 by Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar. The organization aims to not only celebrate its history but also address contemporary national concerns, including electoral roll revisions and promoting social harmony.

As the centenary year approaches in 2025-26, the RSS is planning extensive outreach initiatives. These include hosting over 100,000 Hindu conferences across the country and launching a door-to-door campaign from November 2025 to January 2026 to connect with every administrative block. Additionally, the organization will hold 100 specialized training camps and a three-day lecture series by Bhagwat in major cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Kolkata, starting on August 26, 2024.

International engagement is also part of the centenary plans, with invitations extended to diplomats from various nations, excluding a few. The RSS intends to honor significant historical figures, including commemorating the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur and the 150th birth anniversary of Birsa Munda, reflecting its commitment to cultural reverence.

Kharge’s call for a ban was made on October 31, 2023, in reference to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s 1948 prohibition of the RSS following Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination. He criticized the RSS and BJP for allegedly causing law-and-order issues and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to uphold Patel’s legacy by reinstating restrictions. His son, Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge, further echoed this sentiment, suggesting that the RSS should be excluded from state institutions to prevent “brainwashing” youth.

The BJP quickly countered these claims, with spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla labeling Congress’s use of Patel’s legacy as hypocritical, given the party’s historical sidelining of Patel’s contributions. Congress MP Karti Chidambaram also expressed doubts about the practicality of enforcing a ban in the current legal environment.

As the Jabalpur meeting draws to a close, Hosabale’s responses indicate a shift in narrative, focusing on the RSS’s contributions to society rather than engaging in confrontation. The organization is poised to reflect on its approach, signaling a commitment to a “united Hindu society” that promotes India’s global standing while eschewing extravagant celebrations for thoughtful engagement.

In a time of increasing polarization in discourse, this summit underscores the RSS’s enduring ethos of resilience and its strategy for future growth through community involvement and cultural engagement.