Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Saturday attacked the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), dubbing it the “Rashtriya Surrender Sangh” and alleging it practises “farzi nationalism” at home and “pure servility” abroad.
The Congress leader’s remarks followed a controversy over statements made by RSS functionary Ram Madhav at an event in the United States, where he suggested that India had agreed to stop buying oil from Iran and Russia and had accepted higher tariffs imposed by Washington.
Sharing a video of the remarks, Gandhi said in a post on X, “Rashtriya Surrender Sangh. Farzi nationalism in Nagpur. Pure servility in the USA. Ram Madhav has only revealed Sangh's true nature.”
Madhav later issued a clarification, saying his comments were “factually incorrect” and apologising for the same.
“What I said was wrong. India didn't agree to stopping import of oil from Russia anytime. Also it vigorously protested 50 per cent tariff imposition. I was trying to make a limited counterpoint to the other panellist. But factually incorrect. My apologies,” he said in a post.
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The remarks were made during an interaction at the Hudson Institute in Washington, where Madhav had stated that India had “agreed” to certain economic and strategic concessions, including higher tariffs.
Congress general secretary K C Venugopal also targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that the comments amounted to an admission that the government was yielding to US pressure.
“Clear admission by a senior RSS leader - PM Modi is dancing to Washington's tunes,” Venugopal said in a post on X.
“There was once a time when the US' 7th Fleet was in the Bay of Bengal, and India didn't budge. And then there is today, where a compromised PM has handed over India's sovereignty to the US,” he alleged.
“India has lost its independent voice on the world stage. After this surrender, it's clear that Narendra Modi has lost his authority to continue as Prime Minister,” Venugopal added.
The BJP or the government did not immediately respond to the Congress’ allegations.
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