New Delhi: All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi on Friday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for praising the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in his Independence Day address from the Red Fort, calling it “an insult to the freedom struggle.”
Owaisi questioned why the Prime Minister chose the national stage in Delhi to glorify the RSS, instead of acknowledging the organisation at its headquarters in Nagpur. He argued that the move appeared aimed at legitimising the RSS’s role in India’s independence—a claim he said was historically inaccurate.
In a series of posts on social media, the Hyderabad MP noted that the RSS never actively participated in the freedom movement and had opposed leaders like Mahatma Gandhi. “Glorifying the RSS in an Independence Day speech undermines the sacrifices of our freedom fighters. The RSS and its ideological allies acted more like foot soldiers for the British than defenders of India’s independence,” he said.
Owaisi further accused the organisation of promoting an exclusionary ideology, warning that Hindutva undermines the inclusive values enshrined in the Indian Constitution. He added that while India faces external threats, the greater danger is internal, from the spread of divisive and polarising forces.
“China remains our biggest external threat, but the real challenge lies within—from the hate and division sown by the Sangh Parivar,” he said. “To truly safeguard our freedom, we must oppose these forces.”
The AIMIM leader also suggested that Modi could have praised the RSS privately in Nagpur as a “swayamsevak,” rather than elevating the organisation on the nation’s most symbolic platform.
During his 79th Independence Day speech, Prime Minister Modi hailed the RSS for completing 100 years of service, describing it as the “biggest NGO in the world” and recognising its contributions to nation-building. He emphasised the organisation’s work in social and cultural mobilisation.
Historians note that while the RSS avoided direct confrontation with the British, some members supported freedom fighters covertly. However, the organisation largely focused on Hindu social and cultural consolidation rather than participating directly in the independence struggle.
Owaisi’s remarks reflect a continuing debate over the role of ideological organisations in India’s history and their recognition on national platforms, highlighting tensions between constitutional values and the politics of identity.
