Kharge attacks RSS over freedom struggle, says Congress has the ‘real patriots’

Published 8 August 2026 · politics

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday (August 8, 2026) stepped up his attack on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), questioning its contribution to the freedom

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday (August 8, 2026) stepped up his attack on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), questioning its contribution to the freedom struggle and accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its ideological mentor of “lecturing” the Congress on patriotism despite having played no role in the fight against British rule. Also Read | RSS helped the British while Congress fought for freedom: Rahul Gandhi Addressing a rally in Haldwani, Mr. Kharge sounded the poll bugle for the Uttarakhand Assembly election, which is scheduled in 2027. Invoking Mahatma Gandhi’s call to ‘do or die’ on August 8, 1942, the Congress chief said the Quit India Movement had united Indians against British rule and ultimately led to their departure from the country.

“It is an auspicious day today and we have sounded the conch shell for victory from here. This will usher in change and the Congress will form the government here,” Mr. Kharge said, linking the historic occasion to the Congress rally. The Congress chief said no genuine BJP or Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) member had gone to jail during the freedom struggle. “The BJP and the RSS have done nothing for the country. They contributed nothing to the freedom struggle. The truth is, we are the real patriots. They are the deserters,” he said. Kharge also accused the BJP and RSS of “looting in the name of religion”, referring to alleged irregularities involving temple donations.

He named Kedarnath, Badrinath, and the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, alleging that those accused of taking devotees’ offerings were now branding their political opponents as being against God. “When I stand up to speak on this in Parliament, BJP MPs start creating a ruckus,” the Congress leader said. Taking aim at the BJP government in Uttarakhand, Mr. Kharge questioned its ‘double-engine’ governance model and alleged that ₹1,000 crore was being spent annually on publicity and propaganda. “Whose money is this? This is public money, money from the people’s taxes,” he said, accusing the government of spending it to promote Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. Seeking to draw a contrast between the Congress and the BJP, Mr. Kharge lauded the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi for travelling across the country and meeting young people, farmers, students, and the poor.