Priyank Kharge’s Savarkar Remarks Trigger Political Row

• Priyank Kharge’s remarks on RSS and V.D. Savarkar spark political controversy.
• Savarkar’s grandnephew Satyaki accuses Congress of maligning freedom fighters.
• Satyaki defends Savarkar’s call for Indians to join the British Army as a strategic move.
• War of words revives ideological battle between Congress and BJP over Savarkar’s legacy.

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 29th July: A fresh political controversy has erupted after Karnataka Minister and senior Congress leader Priyank Kharge criticised the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and freedom fighter Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, prompting a sharp rebuttal from Savarkar’s grandnephew, Satyaki Savarkar.

Satyaki Savarkar accused Congress leaders of attempting to gain political mileage by targeting Savarkar and the RSS, alleging that such remarks stem from the party’s frustration over being out of power.

The controversy began after Kharge questioned Savarkar’s role during India’s freedom struggle, contrasting it with that of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.

“When Subhas Chandra Bose was putting together the Indian National Army during the freedom struggle, Savarkar was asking Hindus to join the British Army. This is their history,” Kharge said.

Responding to the criticism, Satyaki Savarkar defended his granduncle’s position, arguing that Savarkar’s appeal for Indians to enlist in the British Army was a strategic effort to provide military training to Indian youth.

He claimed that many of those trained later became part of the Indian Armed Forces and played a significant role in defending the country after Independence.

Satyaki also rejected Kharge’s criticism of the RSS, saying the organisation has served the nation for nearly a century through relief work during natural disasters and national crises.

“RSS was founded 100 years ago as a socio-cultural movement. Swayamsevaks have spent a century serving the nation during natural calamities and national crises. There is no question of treating it like a commercial or state entity,” he said.

Kharge has previously questioned the RSS’s legitimacy and demanded greater transparency regarding its functioning.

In earlier remarks, the Karnataka minister had said the RSS has “no moral authority to issue certificates of patriotism” and described it as “the most anti-national organisation in the country’s history.” He also questioned why the organisation, which he described as unregistered, should position itself as the custodian of nationalism, calling for legal registration and public accountability.

Countering the allegations, Satyaki accused Congress leaders of deliberately tarnishing the image of freedom fighters for political gain.

“They want fame because they are not in power. Savarkar was a visionary. One should actually read and understand his contributions before passing judgment,” he said.

The latest exchange adds to the long-running political battle over Savarkar’s legacy. Earlier, Satyaki Savarkar had filed a criminal defamation case against Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi over his remarks on Savarkar.

The latest war of words has once again brought ideological differences between the Congress and the BJP to the forefront, with both parties defending sharply contrasting narratives on nationalism, the RSS and Savarkar’s role in India’s freedom movement.