Cong slams Bhagwat's 'true independence' remark, demands apology

New Delhi: Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Wednesday criticized RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s statement that India’s "true independence" was established on the day of the Ram temple’s consecration, calling the remark "anti-national." Bhagwat’s comments, made during an event in Indore, suggested that the consecration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya marked the true independence of Bharat, a nation that had faced centuries of "parachakra" (enemy attacks).

Ramesh condemned Bhagwat's remarks on the social media platform X, saying, "Shri Mohan Bhagwat has made ridiculous statements frequently. But even by his lowest standards, this latest pronouncement is not just astonishing but downright anti-national." He further stated that Bhagwat's comments insulted Mahatma Gandhi and the generation that fought for India’s freedom, as well as undermined the Constitution, which came into effect on January 26, 1950.

Ramesh demanded an immediate apology from Bhagwat, accusing him of reflecting an ideology that did not participate in India’s freedom struggle and showed disrespect to key figures such as Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar during their lifetimes.

Bhagwat’s statement, made on Monday after presenting the "National Devi Ahilya Award" to Champat Rai, general secretary of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, also emphasized the importance of the nation’s Constitution, noting that after gaining political independence from Britain on August 15, 1947, India created a written Constitution that did not fully reflect the original vision intended.

Bhagwat proposed that the day of the Ram temple consecration should be celebrated as "Pratishtha Dwadashi," marking the true independence of India.

With PTI inputs