Senior Congress leaders launched a scathing critique on Thursday targeting Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat for his recent statements. The leaders accused the RSS and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of promoting divisive politics, forcing Hindi on non-Hindi speaking regions, and attempting to dilute the country's foundational secular character.
Congress Leaders Accuse RSS of Empty Rhetoric and Divisive Actions
Congress spokesperson Rashid Alvi directly addressed Bhagwat's comments, arguing that both the RSS chief and Prime Minister Narendra Modi were more invested in crafting a public image than in actionable governance. "Mohan Bhagwat and the Prime Minister are both trying to cultivate their images," Alvi stated. He questioned the sincerity behind Bhagwat's words, asking why the RSS leader does not instruct BJP politicians to halt the forcible imposition of Hindi in South India, a move that often sparks significant backlash and resentment.
"If Mohan Bhagwat truly believes this, why doesn't he tell the BJP leaders to stop forcibly imposing Hindi on the people of South India?" Alvi challenged. He emphasized that mere statements were insufficient and that Bhagwat needed to ensure his cadre and allied political leaders translated his words into concrete, unifying action.
Allegations of Erasing Gandhi's Legacy and Pushing for Hindu Rashtra
In a more severe allegation, Congress leader V Hanumantha Rao accused the RSS chief of working systematically to transform India into a 'Hindu Rashtra' and erase the contributions of Mahatma Gandhi. Rao warned the public to recognize and resist these efforts, asserting that India, by constitutional design, is a secular nation.
"RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat has only one work, and that is to make India a 'Hindu Rashtra' and erase Mahatma Gandhi's name from it," Rao alleged. He cited the example of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), claiming there were attempts to remove Gandhi's name from the scheme and replace it with Lord Ram's. He called upon people to oppose such changes.
Context: Bhagwat's Call for India as a 'Vishwaguru'
The Congress leaders' reactions were prompted by an address Bhagwat gave in Hyderabad on Sunday. Speaking at a gathering, the RSS chief said India must strive to become a 'Vishwaguru' (world teacher), not out of ambition but as a global necessity. He linked this goal to the resurgence of Sanatana Dharma.
Bhagwat referenced a century-old declaration by Yogi Aurobindo, stating that the rise of a Hindu nation was essential for this spiritual and cultural resurgence. "That time has now come," Bhagwat said, indicating the process had begun. He asserted that Bharat, the Hindu nation, Sanatan Dharma, and Hindutva are synonymous. The RSS chief outlined the Sangh's mission to organize the Hindu community globally and present it as a model of a society living a religious life.
The political backlash highlights the ongoing and deep-seated tensions in Indian politics concerning national identity, language policy, and secularism, with the Congress positioning itself as the primary defender of the Gandhian and pluralistic vision of India against the BJP-RSS ideology.
