New Delhi: A political storm erupted on Sunday after Congress leader Manickam Tagore equated the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) with the terrorist organisation Al-Qaeda, drawing sharp criticism from the BJP and intensifying internal debates within the Congress. The controversy follows Congress veteran Digvijaya Singh’s earlier praise of the BJP-RSS organisational strength, which had already divided opinion within the party.

Tagore’s Controversial Statement

In an interview with ANI, Manickam Tagore described the RSS as “an organisation built on hatred” and claimed it “spreads hatred.” Drawing a parallel with Al-Qaeda, he said:

“The RSS is an organisation built on hatred, and it spreads hatred. There is nothing to learn from hatred. Can you learn anything from Al-Qaeda? Al-Qaeda is an organisation of hatred. It hates others. What is there to learn from that organisation?”

The Congress leader’s remarks were seen as a sharp critique of the RSS’s ideological framework, but the comparison to a globally recognised terrorist group immediately attracted widespread attention and condemnation.

Backdrop: Digvijaya Singh’s Remark

The controversy comes a day after Congress leader Digvijaya Singh posted an old photograph of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with BJP stalwart Lal Krishna Advani, praising the BJP-RSS organisational machinery. In his post on X, Digvijaya wrote:

“It shows how an RSS grassroots volunteer and a Jan Sangh/BJP worker, who once sat on the floor at the feet of leaders, went on to become a state’s chief minister and the country’s prime minister. This is the power of organisation.”

Digvijaya’s comment was aimed at highlighting the BJP-RSS’s organisational efficiency and implied the need for internal reform within the Congress. The remark triggered a mixed response within the party, with leaders like Shashi Tharoor supporting him, while others, including Pawan Khera, downplayed the RSS’s relevance to Congress’s learning curve.

BJP’s Strong Reaction

BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla condemned Tagore’s statement, accusing Congress of indulging in vote-bank politics at the expense of national sentiment. He said:

“After insulting Hindu, Sanatan, Sena, Bharat, now they are targeting a nationalistic organisation also. In an organisation that has been working for the last 100 years for national dedication and national service, they are saying that these are terrorists, but they have nothing to say about the atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh. They have placed votebank politics above everything else.”

The BJP’s response highlighted the sensitivity surrounding the RSS as a century-old nationalist organisation and framed Tagore’s statement as an attack on India’s cultural and organisational institutions.

Support from Within Congress

Interestingly, Tagore’s statement received backing from senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid, who questioned the RSS’s functioning as a social organisation. Khurshid remarked:

“If they (RSS) are a social organisation, then why do they try to influence the system in such a way that other people cannot even function in a democracy? We have this question and it is our resolve to expose this deception that they are perpetrating on the people of India. The message they are giving to the people of India is misleading. We want to put an end to it. We can respond to it and create an alternative, because our answer, our thinking, and our message are far better than theirs.”

Khurshid’s statement effectively endorsed Tagore’s criticism, emphasising Congress’s continued narrative of positioning itself as a counterbalance to the RSS’s influence in Indian politics.

Internal Congress Divisions

The incident has laid bare the divisions within the Congress, where some leaders advocate acknowledging the BJP-RSS organisational strength to encourage introspection, while others prefer adopting a more combative stance. Tagore’s Al-Qaeda remark has intensified these internal differences, drawing both support and criticism from various factions.

Political analysts note that the row reflects Congress’s struggle to articulate a clear stance on the BJP-RSS’s influence while balancing ideological critique with the need to appeal to wider electorates.

Political Implications

The controversy is likely to have multiple ramifications:

• BJP’s Counter-Narrative: The BJP has leveraged Tagore’s comments to paint Congress as anti-nationalist and dismissive of institutions seen as integral to India’s socio-political fabric.
• Congress’s Internal Debate: The remarks have sparked a debate within the party about how to critique the RSS without appearing excessively provocative or alienating moderate voters.
• Media and Public Attention: Tagore’s comparison to a terrorist group has drawn national and international media attention, putting the Congress in a defensive position to explain its stance.

Conclusion

Manickam Tagore’s remarks equating the RSS to Al-Qaeda have stirred a major political controversy, drawing sharp attacks from the BJP while receiving nuanced backing from Congress leaders like Salman Khurshid. The incident highlights the sensitive nature of discussions around the RSS, as well as the internal tensions within Congress over how to position itself against the BJP’s ideological and organisational strength.

With upcoming elections in several states and the increasing prominence of the RSS in political discourse, the controversy is expected to dominate political debates and media narratives in the coming days, as both parties seek to shape public perception.