News for 'rss controversy'

Jana Gana Mana was composed to welcome British: BJP MP

Jana Gana Mana was composed to welcome British: BJP MP

Rediff.com6 Nov 2025

A controversy has erupted in Karnataka after BJP MP Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri claimed that the country's national anthem was written "to welcome the British official". This statement drew sharp criticism from Congress leader and Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge.

Can RSS Put Aurangzeb's Ghost To Rest in Maharashtra?

Can RSS Put Aurangzeb's Ghost To Rest in Maharashtra?

Rediff.com1 Apr 2025

Senior RSS leader Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi's call to drop the Aurangzeb tomb controversy challenges decades of communal rhetoric in Maharashtra, igniting hopes for unity and a balanced historical narrative.

Religion-based quota against Constitution, BR Ambedkar: RSS

Religion-based quota against Constitution, BR Ambedkar: RSS

Rediff.com23 Mar 2025

RSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale has criticized the Karnataka government's decision to provide four per cent reservation for Muslims in government contracts, stating that the Constitution does not allow religion-based quotas. He also said that such reservations go against the wishes of B R Ambedkar, the architect of the Indian Constitution. He also spoke about the controversy over Mughal emperor Aurangzeb's grave in Maharashtra, stating that people who went against the ethos of India were made icons. Hosabale lauded figures like Rajput king Maharana Pratap for resisting Mughal emperor Akbar and said those who resisted invaders were also "freedom fighters". He also spoke about the RSS's idea of 'One Nation, One Culture', stating that it draws inspiration from India's rich cultural heritage and ethos.

Show us proof: Cong calls Rajnath's Nehru-Babri claim a 'lie'

Show us proof: Cong calls Rajnath's Nehru-Babri claim a 'lie'

Rediff.com3 Dec 2025

The Congress party has strongly refuted Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's claim that Jawaharlal Nehru wanted to build the Babri Masjid using public funds, calling it a 'lie' and a 'WhatsApp university story'. Congress leaders have accused Singh of distorting history and distracting from real issues.

BJP questions K'taka govt over video of namaaz at airport

BJP questions K'taka govt over video of namaaz at airport

Rediff.com10 Nov 2025

A viral video purportedly showing a group of people offering namaaz at Terminal-2 of the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru has ignited a political controversy, with the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party taking strong exception to the incident and demanding accountability from the state government.

About 50% turnout in Maha civic polls; 41% polling in BMC

About 50% turnout in Maha civic polls; 41% polling in BMC

Rediff.com15 Jan 2026

A BMC spokesperson said the average voter turnout stood at 29.96 per cent till 1.30 pm in the metropolis, which has more than 1 crore eligible electors.

Will Nitin Nabin Really Be Modi's 'Boss'?

Will Nitin Nabin Really Be Modi's 'Boss'?

Rediff.com21 Jan 2026

Given Modi's track record from the time he became Gujarat chief minister in October 2001, it is highly improbable that Nabin will get opportunities to display his individual capacity. Even the team of organisational leaders that he will 'appoint' in a few weeks or months, will unlikely to be his choice, predicts Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay.

TMC suspends MLA who proposed to build 'Babri Masjid'

TMC suspends MLA who proposed to build 'Babri Masjid'

Rediff.com4 Dec 2025

West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress on Thursday suspended its Bharatpur MLA Humayun Kabir, who had triggered a storm with the proposal to build 'Babri Masjid' in Murshidabad district.

MP minister calls Raja Ram Mohan Roy 'British agent'

MP minister calls Raja Ram Mohan Roy 'British agent'

Rediff.com16 Nov 2025

Madhya Pradesh Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Inder Singh Parmar has sparked controversy by saying that social reformer Raja Ram Mohan Roy was a 'British agent' who started a 'vicious cycle of religious conversion', prompting the Trinamool Congress to call the remarks an insult to Bengal.

'New distraction': Oppn slams Rajnath over 'Nehru-Babri' remark

'New distraction': Oppn slams Rajnath over 'Nehru-Babri' remark

Rediff.com3 Dec 2025

Opposition leaders have criticized Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's remarks about Jawaharlal Nehru's alleged desire to build the Babri Masjid with public funds, accusing him and the BJP of distorting historical facts.

'My opponent is quintessential RSS man, I am far away from it'

'My opponent is quintessential RSS man, I am far away from it'

Rediff.com23 Aug 2025

'Earlier, we used to talk about a deficit economy. There is a deficit in democracy' 'If you read superficially Gandhi and Ambedkar and Nehru, some misconceptions and misunderstanding come to mind, as if they were at loggerheads and they differed radically in their views' 'India is one nation. There is only one citizenship. No citizenship for South India and no citizenship for North India and another for the Northeast'

Waqf Act will be 'thrown into dustbin' if.... : Tejashwi Yadav

Waqf Act will be 'thrown into dustbin' if.... : Tejashwi Yadav

Rediff.com26 Oct 2025

Tejashwi Yadav, the INDIA bloc's CM candidate, promised to scrap the Waqf (Amendment) Act if voted to power in Bihar, criticizing the current CM and the BJP.

Kerala puts PM SHRI project on hold under CPI pressure

Kerala puts PM SHRI project on hold under CPI pressure

Rediff.com30 Oct 2025

The Kerala government will review the implementation of the Centre's PM SHRI scheme in the state following controversies and concerns. A cabinet sub-committee has been formed to study the scheme, and further proceedings are on hold pending the committee's report.

Can Humayun Kabir's revolt dent TMC's fortunes in Bengal?

Can Humayun Kabir's revolt dent TMC's fortunes in Bengal?

Rediff.com5 Dec 2025

Humayun Kabir, a former TMC minister, has been suspended from the party after announcing plans to lay the foundation of a "Babri Masjid-style" mosque on December 6. This move has sparked controversy and raised concerns about communal tensions in West Bengal.

Rahul 'will be shot in chest', ABVP leader says on live TV

Rahul 'will be shot in chest', ABVP leader says on live TV

Rediff.com29 Sep 2025

The Congress party has escalated its attack on the BJP-RSS, alleging a conspiracy to silence Rahul Gandhi after a former ABVP leader made controversial remarks targeting him.

We too should have committed cadre like RSS: Pawar

We too should have committed cadre like RSS: Pawar

Rediff.com10 Jan 2025

NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar has praised the RSS for its dedicated cadre and urged his party to create a similar base committed to progressive ideas. He attributed the NCP's recent electoral setbacks to complacency and a failure to communicate its work for the OBC community. Pawar also emphasized the need for social engineering to address caste tensions and announced that 50% of the tickets for upcoming local body elections will be given to new faces.

UP to make singing Vande Mataram compulsory in schools

UP to make singing Vande Mataram compulsory in schools

Rediff.com10 Nov 2025

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced that singing 'Vande Mataram' will be made compulsory in every school and educational institution of the state.

RSS leader says no need to learn Marathi in Mumbai, sparks row

RSS leader says no need to learn Marathi in Mumbai, sparks row

Rediff.com6 Mar 2025

Fadnavis on Thursday asserted that Marathi is the language of Mumbai and Maharashtra and anyone who lives here should learn and speak it, after a Shiv Sena-UBT MLA pointed to comments of a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh leader.

Bharat Mata row sparks protests, war of words in Kerala

Bharat Mata row sparks protests, war of words in Kerala

Rediff.com21 Jun 2025

The editorial came amidst the ongoing tussle between Arlekar and the Marxist party-led Left Democratic Front government over the usage of 'Bharat Mata portrait' during official functions being held in Raj Bhavan.

Bharat Mata Dispute Rocks Kerala Academia

Bharat Mata Dispute Rocks Kerala Academia

Rediff.com25 Jul 2025

The Bharat Mata controversy in Kerala shows how political and symbolic fights between the state and the Centre have taken attention away from education, throwing the state's oldest university into confusion and disorder, observes Shyam G Menon.

RSS leader takes U-turn after 'stopped at 240' dig at BJP

RSS leader takes U-turn after 'stopped at 240' dig at BJP

Rediff.com15 Jun 2024

RSS leader whipped up a political storm for stating that the BJP was restricted to 240 seats, well below the majority mark, in the recently concluded Lok Sabha polls, due to its "arrogance".

BJP And The Long-Standing Preamble Dream

BJP And The Long-Standing Preamble Dream

Rediff.com10 Jul 2025

BJP and RSS leaders are once again pushing to remove the words 'secular' and 'socialist' from the Constitution's Preamble, showing a deeper effort to change India's identity from a diverse, multi-religious republic to a Hindu-first nation, even though they don't have the numbers in Parliament to officially change the Constitution, observes N Sathiya Moorthy.

Is Modi's 'Mr India' Image Fading?

Is Modi's 'Mr India' Image Fading?

Rediff.com20 Aug 2025

'The Election Commission's involvement in the avoidable SIR controversy has carried a message down to the last voter -- who just does not like it,' observes N Sathiya Moorthy.

What C P Radhakrishnan's Choice Means For Modi, BJP

What C P Radhakrishnan's Choice Means For Modi, BJP

Rediff.com18 Aug 2025

By naming a sworn swayamsevak for vice president, the Modi-Shah duo have sent out a clear and positive message to Nagpur, where the RSS headquarters is located, explains N Sathiya Moorthy.

Kolkata police stop 'The Bengal Files' trailer launch

Kolkata police stop 'The Bengal Files' trailer launch

Rediff.com16 Aug 2025

Kolkata Police stopped the trailer launch of 'The Bengal Files', a film based on the 1946 Calcutta Riots, its director Vivek Agnihotri claimed, sparking controversy and allegations of censorship.

Is AIADMK Feeling Uncomfortable With BJP's Politics?

Is AIADMK Feeling Uncomfortable With BJP's Politics?

Rediff.com30 Jun 2025

While acknowledging that they needed strong allies for a chance in the assembly polls, AIADMK cadres seemingly prefer actor-politician Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam to the BJP, owing to the latter's 'communal agenda' and consequent hardline Hindutva image, explains N Sathiya Moorthy.

Fadnavis steps in to douse fire, says Marathi language of Mumbai, Maha

Fadnavis steps in to douse fire, says Marathi language of Mumbai, Maha

Rediff.com6 Mar 2025

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday asserted that Marathi is the language of Mumbai and Maharashtra and anyone who lives here should learn and speak it. Fadnavis was speaking in the state assembly after Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Bhaskar Jadhav said the government should clarify its stand on senior Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi's comments that a person coming to Mumbai may not necessarily learn Marathi.

BJP ki majboori hai Modi ji...: Nishikant Dubey

BJP ki majboori hai Modi ji...: Nishikant Dubey

Rediff.com18 Jul 2025

Bharatiya Janata Party MP Nishikant Dubey emphasised the crucial role of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the party's electoral success, stating that the several sections which did not vote for BJP earlier now support the party and it has broken new ground in many states.

Documents must, clarifies EC on Bihar voter list review

Documents must, clarifies EC on Bihar voter list review

Rediff.com6 Jul 2025

The Election Commission has clarified that the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar is progressing as per its order, addressing concerns raised on social media and by opposition parties.

BJP slams Rahul Gandhi over 'Narendra, surrender' jibe

BJP slams Rahul Gandhi over 'Narendra, surrender' jibe

Rediff.com4 Jun 2025

The BJP accused Rahul of insulting the armed forces with his "surrender" barb at Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Can R S Prasad's Team Convince Europe About Pakistan?

Can R S Prasad's Team Convince Europe About Pakistan?

Rediff.com23 May 2025

An Indian delegation led by the BJP's Ravi Shankar Prasad will tour key European capitals to expose Pakistan's role in cross-border terrorism and State-sponsored extremism.

MP minister refers to Col Quershi as 'sister of terrorists', apologises

MP minister refers to Col Quershi as 'sister of terrorists', apologises

Rediff.com14 May 2025

Madhya Pradesh Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Vijay Shah has sparked a major controversy with objectionable comments that appeared to be directed at Colonel Sofia Qureshi, whom he tried to project as a 'sister of terrorists'.

Digvijaya Singh booked for sharing FB post on RSS ex-chief Golwalkar

Digvijaya Singh booked for sharing FB post on RSS ex-chief Golwalkar

Rediff.com9 Jul 2023

Following the post, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan accused Congress leaders of spreading "misinformation" and creating social hatred by sharing a "false" post on Golwalkar.

Why The BJP Needs The RSS For 2024

Why The BJP Needs The RSS For 2024

Rediff.com5 Apr 2023

For the BJP, the RSS' organisational heft is a prized asset, considering the slew of elections it faces this year, ahead of the Lok Sabha election in 2024.

Nehru-Gandhi family surrendered Indian interests: BJP slams Rahul

Nehru-Gandhi family surrendered Indian interests: BJP slams Rahul

Rediff.com4 Jun 2025

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday slammed Rahul Gandhi for his 'surrender' barb at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying it is not only a grave insult to the armed forces and country but also no less than treason.

'Stay indoors': Bihar BJP MLA's Holi appeal to Muslims sparks row

'Stay indoors': Bihar BJP MLA's Holi appeal to Muslims sparks row

Rediff.com11 Mar 2025

Haribhushan Thakur Bachaul, the MLA from Bisfi assembly constituency in Madhubani district, made these remarks while speaking to reporters at the Vidhan Sabha premises.

'Nowhere In Empuraan Did They Mention Godhra'

'Nowhere In Empuraan Did They Mention Godhra'

Rediff.com9 Apr 2025

'They just showed riots created by some political party. They never mentioned the name of the place or the political party.' 'I don't know why these people are agitated.'

Transition of Kapil Mishra: From BJP, Modi critic to Delhi minister

Transition of Kapil Mishra: From BJP, Modi critic to Delhi minister

Rediff.com20 Feb 2025

Kapil Mishra, a former AAP member and a vocal critic of the BJP, RSS, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has undergone a complete political transformation, becoming a controversial figure often regarded as the "posterboy of Hindutva." He has now been inducted as a minister in the newly formed Delhi government, marking a significant shift in his political allegiance and raising questions about his role in shaping the city's future.

Why ex-President Kalam cancelled his visit to RSS headquarters

Why ex-President Kalam cancelled his visit to RSS headquarters

Rediff.com15 Oct 2022

Former President A P J Abdul Kalam had once cancelled his visit to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh headquarters in Nagpur for an event after friends warned him that he would be labelled as an "RSS sympathiser", claims a new book, Kalam: The Untold Story.

Upper castes should handle tribal affairs, says Union minister, courts row

Upper castes should handle tribal affairs, says Union minister, courts row

Rediff.com2 Feb 2025

Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Suresh Gopi has stirred controversy by suggesting that members of the "upper castes" should handle the tribal affairs portfolio. Gopi, an actor-turned-politician, argued that true progress in tribal welfare would only be achieved under the leadership of individuals from "upper castes." His comments have been met with widespread criticism, including from CPI state secretary Benoy Viswam and prominent tribal leader C K Janu.