Karnataka minister and Congress leader Priyank Kharge on Monday launched a strong criticism of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), questioning its transparency and the privileges extended to its leadership.
Kharge pointed out that all non-governmental organisations in India are required to be registered, file income tax returns, and disclose their sources of income and donations to the government. He argued that if the RSS considers itself an NGO, it should adhere to the same regulations.
The minister also questioned the rationale behind the high-level security provided to the RSS chief, asking why the head of an organisation that does not pay taxes is being protected at the expense of public funds. He remarked that given the RSS’s own cadre strength and organisational network, the need for such additional protection was questionable.
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat currently receives top-tier security from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), which includes about 60 commandos, bulletproof vehicles, and coordination with local authorities. His security was upgraded from the Z+ category to the Advanced Security Liaison (ASL) protocol in August 2024, a level equivalent to that of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Taking a swipe at the organisation, Kharge said the RSS tends to react sharply whenever its activities are questioned, implying that it shows an unusual sensitivity to criticism.
He further stated that despite the group’s political influence, most Indians neither endorse nor accept the RSS, adding that the organisation is not above the nation, the Constitution, or the law.
Kharge’s remarks came a day after he raised concerns about the RSS’s functioning and finances, alleging that it operates without formal registration or adequate public accountability, Maktoob Media reported.
“The RSS has officially stated in writing that it is not a registered entity. If it truly serves the nation selflessly, why not register like the lakhs of NGOs that work transparently and lawfully?” he said in a post on X.
Raising further questions, he asked, “Where do their donations come from and who are the donors? Who pays the full-time pracharaks and funds the organisation’s daily operations and so-called social campaigns?”
“If the RSS is unregistered and unaccountable, isn’t it evading scrutiny and taxes while claiming to serve the nation? How does this make them Desh Bhakts?” Kharge highlighted.
Earlier, Priyank Kharge and his family reportedly received death threats and abusive calls after he urged the government to prohibit RSS activities on public premises. He had described such activities as an example of the “toxic ideology” the organisation was spreading among the youth.
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), founded in 1925 by Keshav Baliram Hedgewar with the stated goal of promoting Hindu nationalism, has long been accused by critics of contributing to communal polarisation and violence.
The organisation has been banned several times in India’s history — first in 1948 after Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination, again during the Emergency from 1975 to 1977, and once more in 1992 following the demolition of the Babri Masjid. Each ban was imposed amid concerns that the group’s activities threatened national unity and social harmony.
Earlier in the week, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also called for a ban on the RSS, citing Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s 1948 letter that held the organisation responsible for fostering the conditions that led to Gandhi’s assassination. He said that if the Prime Minister genuinely respects Patel’s legacy, he should act in accordance with those views.