"They never participated in freedom struggle": Kerala LoP VD Satheesan on RSS chief's remarks on Independence Day
Jan 15, 2025
New Delhi [India], January 15 : Kerala Leader of Opposition and Congress leader VD Satheesan claimed that the RSS never took part in the freedom struggle and accused the Sangh Pariavar of "dividing the people".
He was responding to the RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat's reported remarks about not considering August 15, 1947, as the day of Independence.
"RSS has been making a point that they are against the idea of India. They never participated in the freedom struggle. Unfortunately, RSS is following an idea which is creating a divide in the society in India. They are exploiting this divide between people. The Sangh Parivar is dividing the people. Their hate campaign is going on," the Congress leader told ANI here on Wednesday.
Earlier today, the leader of the opposition and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi condemned Bhagwat's statement, calling it an insult to every Indian. He emphasized that such comments would warrant arrest and trial in any other country.
"Mohan Bhagwat has the audacity to inform the nation every two to three days what he thinks about the independence movement and Constitution. What he said yesterday is treason because it states that the Constitution is invalid, fight against the British was invalid. He has the audacity to say this publicly, in any other country, he would be arrested and tried. To say that India did not get independence in 1947 is an insult to every single Indian person and it's about time we stop listening to this nonsense that these people think they can just keep parroting out and shouting and screaming...," he said during the inaugural event of the Congress's new headquarters.
Congress leader Sachin Pilot also questioned Bhagwat's reported remarks.
"What does it mean that you (RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat) don't consider 15th August 1947 as the day of independence? The people of India and Congress under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi fought and made sacrifices for independence. This must be his way of thinking. It is wrong to ignore the contribution of numerous people in India attaining independence...," Pilot said.
Delhi goes to polling on February 5 for Assembly elections and the counting of votes will take place on February 8.
