Chennai: The Tamil Nadu unit of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has strongly urged Communist Party of India (Marxist) MP Sachithanantham to retract his inflammatory statements connecting the RSS with the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi. The RSS has demanded an unreserved apology from the MP, cautioning that failure to comply would result in legal action and the ensuing consequences.
In a comprehensive two-page statement, Sriram, Dakshin Bharat Prachara Pramukh of RSS, condemned the Communist MP from the Dindigul constituency for his defamatory remarks. Sriram emphasised the RSS’s unwavering commitment to national reconstruction, patriotism, and spiritual values through the unity of Hindu society over the past 99 years. He further elaborated that the RSS is the largest charitable and service-oriented organisation globally, with 150,000 dedicated sewaks (volunteers) actively engaged in social welfare activities across the nation. These services are offered not only during normal times but also during natural disasters, calamities, accidents, and even pandemic periods. The volunteers selflessly serve affected individuals irrespective of their community, religion, caste, or creed.
Sriram’s statement, delivered in Tamil, also shed light on historical events, pointing out that the British government had previously issued an order prohibiting civil servants from joining the RSS, fearing the instillation of patriotic sentiments among the youth. However, following India’s independence, this restriction was lifted to align with the constitutional rights of freedom of expression and association. The RSS’s demand for an apology stems from the MP’s unsubstantiated claims linking the organization to Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination. The RSS firmly refutes these allegations and asserts its commitment to the principles of non-violence propagated by the Father of the Nation.
Sriram said “ in 1966, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi brought in a similar order barring central government employees from joining the RSS organisation. This order, seen as contrary to democratic norms, was recently rescinded by the current central government, marking a significant victory for freedom of expression.
He added, “RSS volunteers have made remarkable contributions in various fields, including politics, spirituality, culture, trade union, service, and agriculture. Oblivious of these achievements, two Tamil Nadu MPs from the CPI-M party have opposed the government’s removal of the restrictive order, with MP Sachidanandam falsely accusing the RSS of Gandhi’s assassination.
He said “ when Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated in 1948, the RSS was initially banned. However, the Supreme Court later ruled that the RSS had no involvement in the murder, leading to the lifting of the ban. Various inquiry commissions have since corroborated this ruling. Mahatma Gandhi had visited an RSS camp in Wardha, Maharashtra, in 1934 and acknowledged the organization’s practices”. Despite this, opponents of the RSS continue to propagate false narratives linking the organization to Gandhi’s murder, often retracting their statements in court when faced with legal challenges”.
Sriram said “ as a token appreciation for their role, after the end of 1962 Sino-Indian War, then PM Nehru invited the RSS to participate in the Republic Day parade, indirectly supporting nationalist organizations linked to Savarkar.
He recalled in the past prominent Congress leaders, including Sitaram Kesari, Arjun Singh, and Digvijay Singh, have faced defamation cases for making similar false accusations. Recently, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi had to apologize in the apex court for his defamatory remarks. Concluding his statement, Sriram of RSS has demanded Marxist MP Sachidanandam to withdraw his slanderous remarks on the nearly century old RSS organisation and tender unconditional apologies; failing which he will face legal consequences.
Critics point out “the communists or the left parties have been decimated in almost all states and survive with the support of regional parties like DMK and other I.N.D.I.Alliance parties barring one or two. To make their presence felt and to show their existence, left party members are indulging in such slanderous campaign. Recently, another TN Madurai MP Su Venkatesan made comments on Sengol (sceptre). During the motion of thanks to the President for her address in the 18th Lok Sabha, Su Venkatesan said “Do you know how many hundreds of women were kept as slaves by each king who held this Sengol (sceptre) ? What are you trying to say to the women of the country by bringing and keeping the Sengol here? It is painful.”
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