Sun Aug 17 18:13:44 UTC 2025: ## Summary:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s praise of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in his Independence Day address has sparked controversy. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has strongly criticized Modi’s remarks, alleging that the RSS, the BJP’s ideological parent organization, actively opposed India’s independence movement.
## News Article:
**Kharge Accuses RSS of Opposing Independence After Modi Praises Organization in Speech**
**NEW DELHI -** Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Independence Day speech, which included praise for the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), has ignited a political firestorm. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday vehemently criticized the Prime Minister’s remarks, accusing the RSS, the BJP’s ideological parent body, of actively opposing India’s freedom struggle.
Kharge’s statement underscores a long-standing debate about the RSS’s role in India’s independence movement. He claims the organization was not a participant in the fight for freedom from British rule, a direct challenge to Modi’s positive portrayal.
“The Prime Minister’s effusive praise of the RSS is a distortion of history,” Kharge stated. “The RSS was not involved in the independence movement, and in fact, actively worked against it.”
The Congress President’s accusations are likely to further escalate tensions between the two parties, particularly in the lead-up to upcoming elections. The BJP has yet to respond directly to Kharge’s claims, but the controversy is expected to fuel a heated debate about the historical legacy of both the Congress and the RSS. The issue promises to remain a significant point of contention in the ongoing political discourse.
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