Congress Leaders Compare RSS to Taliban Over Registration Status

Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President B.K. Hariprasad sparked a political controversy in Bengaluru by comparing the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to the Taliban and Jaish-e-Mohammed. Hariprasad argued there is no difference between the three groups because none are registered in India.

Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge supported these criticisms by demanding clarity on the legal and financial accountability of the RSS, specifically regarding its bank accounts, tax filings, and property ownership. Kharge further asserted that the Congress party does not require certificates of patriotism from the RSS or the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), claiming neither group contributed to India's freedom struggle.

In response, BJP National General Secretary B.L. Santhosh defended the RSS, stating the organization has operated since 1925 based on public trust and does not require statutory registration. The dispute coincides with a separate legal row involving an FIR filed against Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi for allegedly disrupting the rendition of Vande Mataram during Independence Day celebrations.