NEW DELHI: Congress spokesperson Jairam Ramesh took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s launch of the “Har Ghar Tiranga” campaign, highlighting historical disagreements between the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Indian national flag.
In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), Ramesh allegedly pointed several instances from RSS history that he argues reflect the organization’s past reluctance to accept the tricolor.
Ramesh pointed that in 1947, RSS’s second chief, MS Golwalkar, criticised the adoption of the tricolor as the national flag in his book Bunch of Thoughts. Golwalkar reportedly described the flag as “communal” and “a mere case of imitation.”
Further, Ramesh referred a 1947 article in the RSS magazine Organiser, which allegedly stated that the tricolor “will never be adopted or respected by the Hindus.” The article suggested that the flag’s three colors were psychologically harmful and detrimental to the country.
Ramesh also cited a 2015 controversy, during which the RSS purportedly argued that “saffron should be the only color on the national flag,” asserting that other colors represented communal ideology.
Additionally, he claimed out that the RSS did not consistently hoist the tricolor at its headquarters until 2001. Ramesh recalled an incident where three youths faced legal action for attempting to hoist the flag on RSS premises.
In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), Ramesh allegedly pointed several instances from RSS history that he argues reflect the organization’s past reluctance to accept the tricolor.
Ramesh pointed that in 1947, RSS’s second chief, MS Golwalkar, criticised the adoption of the tricolor as the national flag in his book Bunch of Thoughts. Golwalkar reportedly described the flag as “communal” and “a mere case of imitation.”
Further, Ramesh referred a 1947 article in the RSS magazine Organiser, which allegedly stated that the tricolor “will never be adopted or respected by the Hindus.” The article suggested that the flag’s three colors were psychologically harmful and detrimental to the country.
Ramesh also cited a 2015 controversy, during which the RSS purportedly argued that “saffron should be the only color on the national flag,” asserting that other colors represented communal ideology.
Additionally, he claimed out that the RSS did not consistently hoist the tricolor at its headquarters until 2001. Ramesh recalled an incident where three youths faced legal action for attempting to hoist the flag on RSS premises.
Ramesh accused the Prime Minister of attempting to “usurp” a national symbol that, according to his claims, the RSS had allegedly rejected. He also highlighted that this criticism comes on a day when India and the Indian National Congress might be celebrating the anniversary of the Quit India Movement, in which, according to Ramesh, the RSS did not participate.
