New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday hailed the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) for its 100 years of service to the nation, describing it as the "biggest NGO in the world". Speaking from the Red Fort on the occasion of India’s 79th Independence Day, the Prime Minister praised the century-old organisation for its enduring commitment 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.

Earlier in the morning, the Prime Minister hoisted the national flag at the Red Fort, where he was received by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Minister of State Sanjay Seth, and the chiefs of the Army, Navy, and Air Force. A ceremonial guard of honour was presented by the inter-services contingent, led by Wing Commander Arun Nagar, comprising personnel from the Indian Army, Navy, Air Force, and Delhi Police -- totalling 128 members.

This year, approximately 5,000 special invitees attended the Red Fort celebrations. The guests included athletes from the Indian contingent of the Special Olympics 2025, international sports winners, gold medallists from the Khelo India Para Games, and top-performing farmers trained and supported under the National Beekeeping and Honey Mission.

The Congress on Friday termed as "most troubling" Prime Minister Narendra Modi's praise for the RSS in his Independence Day speech, saying it is a "breach" of the spirit of constitutional and secular republic and a desperate attempt to appease the Sangh in the run-up to his 75th birthday.

"The PM was tired today. Soon he will be retired," Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said and slammed the prime minister's speech from the ramparts of the Red Fort as "stale, hypocritical, insipid", claiming he recycled his oft-repeated slogans of 'Viksit Bharat' and 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' with "little" to show as measurable outcomes.

"The most troubling element of the PM's speech today was his name-checking of the RSS from the ramparts of the Red Fort - a blatant breach of the spirit of a constitutional, secular republic.

"It is nothing but a desperate attempt to appease the organisation in the run-up to his 75th birthday next month," AICC general secretary, communications, Ramesh said in a post on X.

https://x.com/Jairam_Ramesh/status/1956234258629955597

Reacting to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s praise of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) during his Independence Day address, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav criticised the Sangh Parivar, claiming its ideology is neither secular nor socialist. “He is the Prime Minister from the BJP... but the path of the Sangh Parivar is not secular and socialist. Yeh muh se toh swadeshi hai lekin mann se videshi hai,” Yadav said, referencing the BJP's divergence from its founding principles.