Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address on Independence Day, in which he hailed the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) for its 100-year journey, has evoked furious reactions from opposition leaders.
Modi dubbed the RSS the ‘world’s largest NGO’ and hailed its discipline, dedication, and contributions to nation-building. “An organisation, which has dedicated itself for a whole century now to the welfare of the nation during service, dedication, organisation, and unparalleled discipline, has played and does play a unique role in nation-building,” said Modi.
Founded in 1925 in Nagpur by Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, the RSS is celebrating its centenary with a plethora of events and outreach programmed across the country.
Akhilesh Yadav’s Stinging Reply
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav took a potshot at the RSS, calling it “swadeshi by words but foreigner by heart”.
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Speaking to reporters at Lucknow, Yadav compared the RSS to what he termed the original secularism and socialism of the Bharatiya Janata Party. The ideology of the Sangh Parivar deviates widely from the nationalist ideals, which have always been championed by India in its freedom struggle.
“Yeh muh se toh swadeshi hai lekin mann se videshi hai,” Yadav said, in his emphasis in claiming that the organization’s fidelity does not entirely fall in line with the interests of India.
Challenges and National Strength Beyond Criticism
Apart from slating the RSS, Yadav went into other fronts under which the nation seeks to be conditioned within a global setting.
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Resilient farmers that yield stronger economies and empowered youth to make India viable in the global context must make it stronger for pitches against international pressure-hurt territories that market disruptions can bring.
Allegations Against UP CM
The ex-Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister also did not spare CM Yogi Adityanath, laying the charge of “betraying the BJP” at his door. According to Yadav, Adityanath merely joined the party to secure his position in it and not because he was ideologically aligned with it, highlighting, he said, the cracks in the ruling party.
This year’s Independence Day speech ignited once again a debate on nationalism and secularism and the role of ideological organizations in the public policy sphere. As with his rhetoric in celebrating the RSS’s now century-old service, opposing voices also contend that praise from the podium of a prime minister risks politicizing an otherwise national event designed to unite the country.
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