'Glorifying RSS An Insult To Freedom Struggle': Row Erupts After PM Modi's RSS Praise From Red Fort

New Delhi: On Friday, August 15, Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered an Independence Day speech from the ramparts of the Red Fort. During his address to the nation, the Prime Minister, for the first time in his Independence Day Speech, hailed the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), marking the Hindutva organization’s hundred years of establishment.

Reacting to PM Modi’s RSS remark, Congress leader Salman Khurshid asked why the outfit was mentioned during the Prime Minister’s  Independence Day speech as political row erupted questioning the contribution of the RSS to the country’s independence to be mentioned on the day. The Prime Minister called the outfit “the world’s largest NGO,” while lauding its activities in the country. The RSS, which was banned in the country several times for its alleged anti-India operations, was hailed for its services during Independence Day.

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All-India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi called PM Modi’s speech glorifying the RSS in an Independence Day speech “an insult to the freedom struggle.” The Hyderabad MP pointed out that the RSS and its ideological allies served as British foot soldiers, and they never joined the fight for independence. He noted the outfit hated Mahatma Gandhi more than they ever opposed the British. The AIMIM leader said Modi could have gone to Nagpur to praise RSS as a Swayamsevak, asking why he had to do it from the Red Fort as the Prime Minister?

Owaisi further said that from his Independence Day speech, PM Modi has once again reminded the people why it is necessary to learn real history and honor real heroes.

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“If we don’t, the day isn’t far away when cowardice will be sold to us as the highest form of bravery. RSS rejects the values of inclusive nationalism that motivated our freedom fighters. “The ideology of Hindutva believes in exclusion and is antithetical to the values of our Constitution,” Owaisi said, adding that though China remains the biggest external threat to India, the greater danger lies within – the hate and division spread by the Sangh Parivar.

“We must defeat all such forces to truly safeguard our freedom,” Owaisi wrote on X.

Glorifying the RSS in an Independence Day speech is an insult to the freedom struggle. The RSS and its ideological allies served as British foot soldiers. They never joined the fight for independence and hated Gandhi more than they ever opposed the British.

Happy…

— Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) August 15, 2025

During his speech, Prime Minister Modi said,” Today, from the ramparts of the Red Fort, I respectfully remember all the swayamsevaks who have contributed to this hundred-year-long journey of service to the nation. “The country takes pride in this grand, devoted century-long journey of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, and it will continue to inspire us.”