‘Communal body with a totalitarian outlook': Congress cites book to highlight Gandhi’s view of RSS

New Delhi: On the 100th anniversary of the RSS, the Congress cited excerpts from a book to claim that Mahatma Gandhi described the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) as a “communal body with a totalitarian outlook.”

In a post on X, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said Pyarelal, one of Gandhi's closest aides and his personal secretary after Mahadev Desai’s death in 1942, had documented the comment in his books.

"Pyarelal's books on Mahatma Gandhi have become standard reference works. In 1956, he published the first volume of his book 'Mahatma Gandhi: The Last Phase'... brought out by Navajivan Publishing House, Ahmedabad. It carried a long introduction by the President of India Dr. Rajendra Prasad, as well as an endorsement by the Vice President Dr. S. Radhakrishnan," Ramesh said.

The second volume appeared in 1958. "On page 440 of the second volume, Pyarelal writes of a conversation between Mahatma Gandhi and one of his colleagues in which the Father of the Nation describes the RSS as a 'communal body with a totalitarian outlook'," Ramesh added, noting that the conversation took place on September 12, 1947.

Ramesh also highlighted that Union Home Minister Sardar Patel banned the RSS five months later, sharing a screenshot of the passage.

Sardar Patel’s warnings on RSS activities

Ramesh shared extracts from a letter Patel wrote to Syama Prasad Mookerjee on July 18, 1948, saying, "As regards the RSS and the Hindu Mahasabha, the case relating to Gandhi ji's murder is sub-judice and I should not like to say anything about the participation of the two organisations, but our reports do confirm that, as a result of the activities of these two bodies, particularly the former, an atmosphere was created in the country in which such a ghastly tragedy became possible..."

"The activities of the RSS constituted a clear threat to the existence of the government and the State. Our reports show that those activities, despite the ban, have not died down. Indeed, as time has marched on, the RSS circles are becoming more defiant and are indulging in their subversive activities in an increasing measure..."

Ramesh further noted that Patel addressed a massive public gathering in Jaipur on December 19, 1948, where he spoke forcefully on the RSS.

Congress slams PM Modi for honouring RSS

During the centenary celebrations of the RSS on Wednesday, PM Narendra Modi praised the organisation for its nation-first approach despite several attacks, and released a special postage stamp and commemorative coin featuring the first-ever depiction of Bharat Mata on Indian currency.

Slamming the PM, Congress general secretary K C Venugopal said, "Inaugurating a commemorative coin and stamp to honour the RSS is a deep insult to India's freedom struggle and the Constitution."

"Honouring an organisation that actively collaborated with India's colonial masters and continues to spread poison in society to this day must be seen as a dark day in history," he added.

"How can an organisation that was banned by Sardar Patel be honoured today by the Indian Government? How can those who advocate for rewriting our Constitution and destroying the social justice agenda given to us by Dr. Ambedkar be celebrated as national icons?" Venugopal questioned.