Amit Shah Defends RSS Against Ban Calls: "Two of India's Best Prime Ministers Came From This Organization"

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh or RSS, which is celebrating its centenary year, has provided India with two highly popular prime ministers, according to Home Minister Amit Shah, who was responding to Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge's call for banning the organization.

"However, he (M Kharge) failed to provide any justification. We all recognize that the RSS is an organization that has motivated millions of young people like myself to work towards improving our country. It has instilled patriotic values and discipline. It's worth noting that two individuals who emerged from the RSS have served as Prime Ministers of this nation. And arguably both of them (Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Narendra Modi) will be regarded among the finest Prime Ministers this country has ever had," Amit Shah explained to NDTV's Editor-in-Chief and CEO Rahul Kanwal at the Bihar Power Play conclave in Patna on Saturday.

The RSS functions as the ideological foundation of the BJP, with its members playing a crucial role in the party's electoral campaigns.

"The RSS has made substantial contributions to the nation's development, providing social guidance, uniting people across the country, and inspiring youth to serve not only themselves but the nation as well. I understand M Kharge's intentions, but they will never be realized," Amit Shah stated.

On Friday, Mallikarjun Kharge suggested that if PM Modi respects the views expressed by India's first Home Minister Vallabhbhai Patel, then the RSS should be banned.

"These represent my personal opinions, and I openly advocate for such a ban. If the PM truly respects Vallabhbhai Patel's perspectives, this action should be taken. All the problems and law and order issues in this country can be attributed to the BJP and RSS," the Congress chief alleged.

The Congress leader's comments followed PM Modi's accusation that Congress has failed to properly honor Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's legacy. PM Modi made these remarks during his speech at the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas Programme in Kevadia, Gujarat.

MP Karti Chidambaram, a fellow party member of Kharge, appeared to disagree with him regarding the practicality of such a demand.

"This type of request clearly won't be granted. There was a period when the RSS was banned, but the ban was subsequently lifted... While I disagree with the RSS-BJP political ideology, I question whether a ban is feasible and sustainable in today's legal environment. It's also important to recognize that the current government is led by dedicated RSS members, including the Prime Minister himself," Karti Chidambaram remarked.

The RSS was established by KB Hedgewar in Nagpur on Vijaya Dashmi in 1925. It has experienced at least three bans in post-independence India.

"RSS represents India's banyan tree of immortal culture and modernization," declared Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 30 this year, during his visit to the RSS headquarters in Nagpur.

PM Modi, who previously served as an RSS pracharak (full-time volunteer), became the first sitting Prime Minister to visit the RSS premises.

"The RSS has completed 100 years since its establishment. Throughout these 100 years, the RSS has made tremendous contributions. Today, it stands as the world's largest self-governing organization. It has produced millions of individuals dedicated to patriotic service. The RSS includes thousands of members who possess neither homes, bank accounts, nor families. They have committed themselves solely to serving the motherland," Amit Shah explained.

Amit Shah praised the RSS as an exceptional "patriotic organization".

"I believe the people of this country should strengthen such a patriotic organization that mobilizes collective national energy. Those advocating for its ban fail to recognize that an election is underway. The public will respond to them through their votes," he concluded.