Priyank Kharge has doubled down on his call for the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to be brought under a formal legal framework, dismissing attacks from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and saying there was nothing unconstitutional about seeking transparency and accountability from an organisation with a significant public presence.
Kharge rejected claims circulating on social media that a video of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat was a response to his letter, saying he had dispatched the letter and made it public on June 15, while the RSS chief's interaction being shared online had taken place on June 13 or 14.
Defending his position, Kharge said the RSS was free to function as a cultural organisation but could not wield extensive social and political influence while claiming it was under no obligation to answer public questions.
He argued that the BJP itself regards the RSS as its ideological parent and said the organisation's influence over public life made transparency essential, pointing to a network of more than 2,500 affiliated organisations in India and overseas, donations flowing through that ecosystem, and RSS headquarters in New Delhi and state capitals.
Kharge also rejected arguments comparing the RSS with Hinduism, saying the organisation could not be considered to be representing any religion when they themselves were only 100 years in existence and no Government had asked any religion to be registered.
