The Congress on Monday demanded that RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat apologise to the country for his remarks on the armed forces and asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to clarify whether he approves of a "private militia" to guard the nation's frontiers. Party president Rahul Gandhi also accused Bhagwat of "disrespecting" the Army and those who have laid down their lives for the country.
"The RSS Chief's speech is an insult to every Indian, because it disrespects those who have died for our nation. It is an insult to our flag because it insults every soldier who ever saluted it. Shame on you Mr Bhagwat, for disrespecting our martyrs and our Army. #ApologiseRSS," he tweeted.
Congress senior spokesperson Anand Sharma termed Bhagwat's statement as "sad and disturbing" and said nations which have allowed private militias and military outfits independent of the country's armed forces to fight for it have come to grief and have paid a heavy price.
He cited examples of Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Somalia and Congo, and said India cannot allow such a development. "The RSS chief's statement is a direct insult to the Indian armed forces by claiming that in the eventuality of a battle to be fought, the RSS can mobilise itself in three days while the Indian Army will take six to seven months," Sharma said.
"The RSS chief should apologise to the country and the armed forces, as he has put a question mark on the capability and bravery of the Indian Army. Such statements and thoughts weaken the morale of our armed forces," he said.
The Congress attacked the RSS chief even as the Sangh clarified that Bhagwat had said that "if situation arises and the Constitution permits, Indian Army would take six months to prepare the society whereas Sangh swayamsevaks can be trained in three days, as swayamsevaks practise discipline regularly".
Sharma said the PM will have to clarify his position on this, on whether he is thinking of allowing the work of national security to be handed over to the RSS other than the Indian Army." "We expect that this mistake be rectified as it is not in national interest and we take this very seriously as the entire country is disturbed," the Congress leader said.
Sharma said the RSS has throughout claimed to be a social and cultural organisation. "It was the undertaking given by the Sangh to the then Home Minister of India Vallabhbhai Patel, who was also the deputy prime minister, for the lifting of the ban on it after the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, " he said.
That position remains unchanged, he said, adding "though the fact is that the RSS is the parent and mother organisation and the controlling ideology of the ruling BJP, which is a political front of the RSS".