‘Apologise, RSS’: Rahul Gandhi On Mohan Bhagwat’s Army Comment

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has said that his organisation can form an army within days to fight India’s enemies.

RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat said that the RSS has the capacity to form an army within a few days to fight for the country.

(Photo: Image Altered by The Quint)

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on 11 February said that his organisation has the capacity to form an army within a few days to fight for the country. Bhagwat’s comments made at a gathering of RSS workers in Muzaffarpur, Bihar, came under attack from the opposition parties.

Sangh will prepare military personnel within three days which the Army would do in 6-7 months. This is our capability. Swayamsewak will be ready to take on the front if the country faces such a situation and Constitution permits to do so.

Mohan Bhagwat, as reported by NDTV

Opposition Parties Lashed out at Bhagwat's Remarks; Demand Apology

The Opposition on 12 February lashed out at RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's remarks on the Army, demanding that he apologise to the nation. There was also a demand for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to clarify if he was in favour of a "private militia" guarding India's borders.

The parties charged Bhagwat with "insulting" the armed forces and the country for the said remarks.

Reacting to the statement, Congress President Rahul Gandhi said that Bhagwat’s comment was an “insult to every Indian, our flag and every soldier who saluted it.” He added that that it was “shameful” of Bhagwat to “disrespect” the army and demanded that the RSS apologise for it.

Congress's senior spokesperson Anand Sharma said the RSS chief's statement insulted the Indian armed forces and called for a clarification from Modi over this.

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.

Congress Spokesperson Anand Sharma

Kerala Chief Minister and CPI-M leader Pinarayi Vijayan slammed Bhagwat, alleging that the RSS wanted to "turn India into Mussolini's Italy and Hitler's Germany".

There was equal outrage over Union Minister’s tweet supporting Bhagwat’s remarks. Rijiju, in his tweet, said, “Bhagwat ji only said it takes 6-7 months for a person to be a trained soldier & if Constitution permits RSS cadres has the ability to contribute.”

The Trinamool Congress attacked Bhagwat as well as Kiren Rijiju for defending the RSS chief, alleging that it had become "even more evident" that the government was being "remote-controlled" by the Sangh.

A minister of the government is supporting and defending the RSS. Kiren Rijiju is not a minister of state but a minister of Sangh.

TMC leader Derek O’Brien

Referring to Bhagwat's remarks and the incident in Kolkata where DG BSF K K Sharma had, in uniform, reportedly attended a conference on border security conducted by an RSS- affiliated organisation, the TMC said every constitutional institution was being "marginalised".

Raj Bhavans have now become shakhas and some governors have become RSS pracharaks. Tripura Governor has become another troll army of the RSS.

Derek O’Brien said

The Sharad Pawar-led NCP also sought an apology from the RSS, saying Bhagwat’s remarks were an insult to India’s armed forces.

The RSS should apologise over such remarks.

NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik 

Bhagwat’s Speech Misinterpreted: RSS

RSS Prachaar Pramukh Dr Manmohan Vaidya, in a statement, said that the Bhagwat’s comments were being misinterpreted, and that RSS workers would also be a part of the Indian Army.

Bhagwat ji had said that if situation arises and the Constitution permits, Indian army would take 6 months to prepare the society whereas Sangh swayamsevaks can be trained in 3 days, as swayamsevaks practise discipline regularly. This was no way a comparison between the Indian army and the Sangh swayamsevaks, but it was a comparison between general society and swayamsevaks. Both are to be trained by the Indian Army only.

Dr Manmohan Vaidya

#ApologiseRSS Trends on Twitter

People took to Twitter to condemn the RSS chief for “belittling” Indian Army’s preparedness and raised questions on the Sangh’s history.

Army Should Be Given “Free Hand”: VHP President

Meanwhile, VHP international working president Pravin Togadia said on Sunday that the army should be given a "free hand" to deal with those fomenting trouble in the Kashmir Valley. He was speaking at a gathering of VHP workers in Chandigarh.

In Kashmir, even our forces are not safe, then what to talk of safety of citizens there. I have given a suggestion that those who pelt stones at our army, the army should be given orders to bombard those. The army should be given a free hand to deal with the problem.

Pravin Togadia, Working President, VHP

Referring to 1971 Indo-Pak war, Togadia praised the then prime minister Indira Gandhi's bold leadership.

"I have said it is time to fight a war against Pakistan. If Indira Gandhi could bifurcate Pakistan into two then and take more than 90,000 Pakistani soldiers as prisoners of war, now it is time to break Pakistan into five parts and capture one lakh Pakistani soldiers,” Togadia said.

What I am saying is that because of Pakistan, our soldiers are dying every other day, the army should be given orders to declare war against Pakistan and break that country into five parts.

Pravin Togadia, Working President, VHP

When asked to comment on a senior lawmaker of the National Conference (NC) raising pro-Pakistan slogans in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, Togadia said, "He should be arrested and courts should hang him so that in future no one dares to raise pro-Pakistan slogans in this country.”

Togadia demanded that Mehbooba Mufti led government in J&K should be dismissed for being “anti-forces”.

“Mehbooba government should be dismissed as it orders FIRs against our soldiers. We do not want such a government. I also want to ask what is the compulsion (of the coalition partner BJP) to support this (PDP led) government,” he said.

(With inputs from IANS and PTI)