New Delhi: Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, claimed on Tuesday that female supporters within the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) endorse his ongoing political campaign against the ideological movement.

Writing on X, Gandhi criticised the RSS over gender equality, characterising the group as an "all-male, anti-constitutional cult." He contrasted the organisation's core worldview with his personal spiritual philosophy, which he identified as "Shiva-Shakti."

"The RSS is an all-male, anti-constitutional cult that believes women are the property of men. I believe in Shiva-Shakti. That's why it gives me such joy to fight them. What's beautiful is that many of their 'own' women are on my side," Gandhi stated.

The statement represents the latest in a sequence of sharp critiques levelled by the senior Congress parliamentarian against the ideological organisation.

Earlier on October 10, Gandhi accused RSS "goons" of orchestrating violence targeting female demonstrators and young activists amid political friction surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists.

"Amit Shah's Delhi Police has itself descended into thuggery—and it's openly giving license and encouragement to the real goons of RSS-BJP to unleash violence on women and youth," he wrote on X.

Gandhi has similarly criticized RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat, describing him as a "villain" in the contemporary political environment while calling upon demonstrators to sustain their agitation.

He posted on X, "I’ve been fighting Narendra Modi and the RSS for over a decade now... Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, Mohan Bhagwat, Gyanesh Kumar, and Ajit Doval, the villains of this story, are slowly finding the space closing around them. We are closing that space."

Issuing a direct challenge to administrative authorities, Gandhi added, "Arrest us all. We are surrounding you, and we are not going to back down. Mark my words: we already have the information we need. We are going to defend our Constitution... Youth of India, I am proud of you. Keep protesting."

The remarks coincided with the RSS holding its flagship Vijayadashami gathering at the Reshimbagh Ground in Nagpur, marking the final phase of its centenary anniversary observances.

ANI