Our Bureau
New Delhi
In his 79th Independence Day speech from the Red Fort on Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) for completing 100 years of service to the nation, describing it as the “biggest NGO in the world” and praising its century-long contribution to nation-building.
“Today, I would like to proudly mention that 100 years ago, an organisation was born – Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). 100 years of service to the nation is a proud, golden chapter. With the resolve of ‘vyakti nirman se rashtra nirman’, with the aim of welfare of Maa Bharati, swayamsevaks dedicated their lives to the welfare of our motherland…In a way, RSS is the biggest NGO of the world. It has a history of 100 years of dedication,” PM Modi said.
Meanwhile, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat marked the 79th Independence Day by hoisting the tricolour at Utkal Bipanna Sahayata Samiti. Addressing the gathering, Bhagwat described India as a “unique country” with a mission to bring “peace and happiness to the world” and share its Dharma globally.
“India is a unique country. It strives to bring peace and happiness to the world and to share its Dharma with others… The reason we became independent was to ensure that everyone in our country could attain happiness, courage, security, peace, and respect. Today, the world is faltering. Despite many experiments over 2000 years, solutions to its problems have not yet been found. It is our duty to provide the world with a solution and create a new world filled with happiness and peace based on our vision, rooted in religious principles,” he said.
However, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi questioned why Prime Minister Narendra Modi chose to praise the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) from the Red Fort on Independence Day, rather than doing so in Nagpur, the RSS headquarters.
He alleged that this was an attempt to legitimise the RSS’s role in India’s freedom struggle and warned that the RSS and its allies pose a greater threat to India’s freedom than external threats like China. He urges people to reject the hate and division spread by the Sangh Parivar.
Also, Congress leader Salman Khurshid demanded answers from RSS for not hoisting the Indian flag for 52 years after Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a reference to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh during his 79th Independence Day speech.
“There are two views about RSS in the country. One is our view, and the other is PM Modi and his allies’ view. There is a huge difference between the two views, so I believe we should not touch that issue on such an auspicious day…” Khurshid said.
