India has strongly rejected remarks by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) officials calling for sanctions against the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and advising against diplomatic courtesies for its leaders. The External Affairs Ministry spokesperson labelled USCIRF a "biased" organisation with its own agenda, lacking credibility.
The Congress party has demanded that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) clarify its stance on Mahatma Gandhi's assassin, Nathuram Godse, being an RSS member. This demand follows a court statement by Satyaki Savarkar, V D Savarkar's grandnephew, who testified that Nathuram Godse and his brother Gopal Godse were "active workers" of the RSS. The statement was made during a defamation complaint hearing filed by Satyaki Savarkar against Rahul Gandhi.
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) recently held a three-day coordination meeting in Visakhapatnam, where senior leader C R Mukunda highlighted discussions on demographic imbalance, its impact on social harmony, recent youth protests, and underlying systemic failures. The Sangh believes these issues, including exam irregularities like NEET, point to broader administrative and institutional shortcomings that require constructive efforts from both government and society.
The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has recommended sanctions against the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and advised the US government against extending diplomatic courtesies to its leaders. This comes ahead of RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat's visit to the US, with USCIRF officials citing allegations of attacks on religious minorities by RSS sub-groups. India has consistently rejected USCIRF's reports as biased and selective.
Karnataka home minister Priyank Kharge on Saturday rejected Bharatiya Janata Party leader B L Santhosh's claim that Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh workers had protected his (Kharge's) family from Razakars during Hyderabad state's integration with India, saying that his family and people of the region were protected by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Jawaharlal Nehru and the Indian Army.
The National Council of Educational Research and Training has reconstituted the Textbook Development Team for class 11 and 12 political science with a mandate to integrate cultural rootedness, Indian knowledge systems and inclusion, with at least four of the members having direct or indirect links with the RSS.
RSS leader Atul Limaye has sparked controversy by alleging that foreign and political elements infiltrated the Cockroach Janata Party's NEET-UG paper leak protest at Jantar Mantar.
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has strongly condemned controversial remarks made by right-wing political observer T G Mohandas regarding student protests, stating they are his 'personal thoughts' and deserve to be denounced.
Indian Olympic Association President PT Usha lauded RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's address at an IIMUN event, calling it 'inspirational' and praising his thoughtful responses regarding youth protests and the need for dialogue.
The RSS's annual Akhil Bharatiya Prant Pracharak Baithak in Belagavi addressed alleged irregularities in the counting of donation box offerings at the Shri Ram Temple in Ayodhya, expressing confidence in the ongoing SIT probe. The meeting also reviewed training activities, centenary year programmes, and discussed critical issues such as population imbalance and drug abuse.
Madhya Pradesh minister Kailash Vijayvargiya's comments about administrative officials rushing to show RSS affiliation after the BJP came to power have ignited a political controversy. The Congress party has strongly criticised the remarks, calling them a threat to the neutrality and constitutional dignity of the bureaucracy and demanding a constitutional review.
Mohan Bhagwat shared his perspectives on the characteristics of 'Gen Z', the trajectory of the 'Stree Mukti Andolan', and the imperative for societal acceptance of LGBTQ+ individuals, emphasising their integral role within Indian tradition.
Following Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation amidst widespread student protests over the NEET paper leak, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi congratulated the youth, calling it a crucial step for education reform, and urged broader public action to hold the government accountable, demanding an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Former Chief Election Commissioner S Y Quraishi stated, "We thought we'll go to the fountainhead of this hate discourse. This whole hate narrative according to us was being spread by the RSS," explaining the delegation's decision to meet RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat in 2022.
The Maharashtra Congress has called for an inquiry into IPS officer Vishwas Nangre Patil's speech at a Hindu Sakal Samaj event, where he reportedly praised the RSS. The party alleges that the speech raises questions about his neutrality and adherence to All India Services (Conduct) Rules, especially concerning political neutrality and the requirement for prior permission for such public engagements. Nangare Patil was recently appointed Nagpur police commissioner, a city known for housing the RSS headquarters.
The RSS leader said post-Partition, people consciously decided to come to India from the other side, because they wanted to live in the land which is Bharat, where they can follow their religion without fear.
RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale has strongly condemned the alleged theft of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya, stating it has deeply hurt sentiments. He called for a thorough investigation and severe punishment for those found guilty, while also urging patience from the Hindu community against "anti-Hindu" forces.
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has firmly rejected demands for the organisation to register itself, asserting that the Sangh operates openly and has nothing to hide. Responding to Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge's call for registration, Bhagwat stated that such demands are politically motivated and that the government is well aware of the RSS's existence and activities.
Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge has intensified his demand for the RSS to register itself and disclose its financial dealings, arguing that the organisation cannot wield significant social and political influence while simultaneously claiming no political agenda and evading public accountability. Kharge's remarks follow RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's rejection of such calls, with Bhagwat asserting the organisation is neither secretive nor operating outside public scrutiny.
Nagpur police launched a search operation at the RSS headquarters after Mayor Neeta Thakre received an email claiming an explosive device was planted there. No suspicious items were found, and an investigation is underway to trace the source of the threat.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on the BJP-RSS, labelling them a "bunch of jokers" with no understanding of India, and criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's foreign policy as merely "hugging leaders." He also claimed the RSS has become an instrument of large capital, serving Adani and Ambani, and vowed that the Congress would keep pressure on the government until Modi and Shah resign. The BJP hit back, calling Gandhi immature and out of depth.
Kerala University vice-chancellor Mohanan Kunnummal on Saturday said those who do not say Vande Mataram do not know who their mother is.
Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke has alleged that "some people from RSS" were behind an attack on him in Jaipur, claiming it was an attempt to divert attention from the NEET (UG) paper leak issue. Dipke, who is leading a protest in Nagpur demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, vowed to continue his peaceful agitation despite such incidents.
All's well with the State; it's the citizens who have to really buck up, was the sum and substance of Mohan Bhagwat's message to Gen Z.
Nagpur Commissioner of Police Vishwas Nangare Patil has addressed the controversy surrounding an old video where he appeared to praise the RSS. He asserted that his remarks at the event were within legal frameworks and did not violate service rules, emphasising his commitment to the Constitution and respect for all communities. The controversy arose after the Maharashtra Congress and MNS chief Raj Thackeray criticised his speech, questioning his neutrality.
Industrialist Kumar Mangalam Birla is set to be the chief guest at the concluding function of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's annual training camp in Nagpur. RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat will also deliver a keynote address at the event, which marks the culmination of the 'Karyakarta Vikas Varg-Dwitiya' attended by 880 volunteers focused on social transformation.
Three people with suspected Pakistan-terror links were arrested for allegedly hurling "petrol bombs" at the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh office in Ranchi, and one of them suffered bullet injuries in a gunfight while trying to escape from police custody on Thursday afternoon, an officer said.
Rather than wasting time on rhetoric, emotions and drama, if Aakhri Sawal had engaged in a serious debate with more controversial questions and stronger arguments to counter them, it would have enriched the viewer as well as lifted the discourse, observes Utkarsh Mishra.
The Congress party has strongly condemned the 'purification' of a rally venue in Haldwani, Uttarakhand, after a public meeting addressed by party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, alleging it reflects an 'anti-Dalit' mindset of the BJP and RSS.
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat on Thursday said protest is a legitimate form of dialogue in a democracy and should be aimed at building consensus rather than creating divisions.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has accused the BJP of being 'anti-religion' following an alleged 'purification' ritual after his speech in Uttarakhand, and challenged the ruling party's claims of patriotism, questioning their involvement in India's independence struggle.
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) conducted extensive voter awareness campaigns and small group meetings across West Bengal, encouraging people to vote without fear, while also providing valuable feedback to the BJP on public sentiment and rival strategies.
Abhijeet Dipke, convener of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), has urged the BJP to align with RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's stance on Gen Z protests, particularly regarding NEET examination irregularities, and to refrain from labelling protesting youth as 'anti-national'.
'Shivakumar's relationship with the BJP and the RSS is not adversarial in the way Siddaramaiah's has been.' 'Siddaramaiah has publicly attacked the RSS on record; Shivakumar has made no such statement at any point.' 'He vociferously defended the Karnataka government's celebration of Ram temple consecration with RSS-ish arguments.'
Actor-politician Kangana Ranaut has made a significant U-turn, praising Gen Z as India's biggest strength and ambassadors of culture, days after controversially labelling them 'generation gutter.' Her new stance aligns with RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's recent comments advocating for hearing out young protesters.
Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), emphasised the importance of young or Gen Z voices leading dialogues with youth, ahead of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's interaction with students in Mumbai. Dipke highlighted that youth protests, including those against the NEET paper leak, have compelled leaders to engage with Gen Z. He also expressed solidarity with students protesting alleged paper leaks in Jharkhand, criticising the government's handling of the issue.
Kangana Ranaut has sparked fresh controversy by declaring her intention to "convert" to an "awakened Hindu" ideology, aligning with BJP and RSS.
Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on Home Minister Amit Shah, alleging he authorised police excesses against student protesters and was 'scared' to face Parliament. Gandhi also accused the RSS of controlling India's education system and promoting 'andhbhakts'.
'Whether they change uniforms or try to rewrite history through education policy, no matter what they do... You have seen what the youth of our country think about this...'
An organisational meeting of the Punjab Congress in Ludhiana, aimed at preparing for the 2027 assembly elections, was marred by protests and "go back" slogans against senior leaders Bhupesh Baghel and Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, highlighting the party's persistent internal divisions.
