Rahul Gandhi Accuses RSS of Trying to Impose Its Ideology, Says It Claims to Know the Truth for 1.5 Billion People

Rahul Gandhi on Thursday launched a strong ideological attack on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), alleging that the organisation believes it has the authority to define the truth and path of life for India's 1.5 billion people. Speaking at the “Hara Bhara Swaraj: A Tribute to Rajiv Gandhi's Vision” event in New Delhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha contrasted the RSS's approach with Mahatma Gandhi's understanding of Swaraj, or self-rule.

Gandhi argued that every individual is unique and has their own journey in seeking truth. He said no person or organisation can claim to understand another individual's experiences, beliefs or personal truth. He cited Mahatma Gandhi's autobiography, My Experiments with Truth, to underline his point, noting that the title itself reflected the idea that truth is experienced personally rather than being a single concept that can be imposed on everyone.

According to Gandhi, the central ideological conflict in India goes beyond issues such as politics, the environment or press freedom. He described the deeper dispute as a struggle over whether a small group should have the power to decide what is true for everyone else. Gandhi also criticised the BJP and RSS over what he described as the marginalisation of different communities. Referring to Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Adivasis and Dalits, he said every citizen should feel that they belong to India, can live freely and are respected regardless of their religion, community or gender.

He further explained his interpretation of Swaraj, arguing that it should not simply be understood as freedom or independence in the Western sense. According to Gandhi, Swaraj means “rule over oneself” and involves personal responsibility and self-governance. Drawing a comparison with US President Donald Trump and Mahatma Gandhi, he said political freedom does not necessarily mean that an individual has achieved self-mastery. He argued that Gandhi's concept of Swaraj was rooted in an individual's ability to govern themselves, even under difficult circumstances.

Gandhi concluded that Swaraj cannot be granted to someone by another person or institution because it represents an individual's personal relationship with life and their own search for truth. He said Gandhi envisioned Swaraj as a path that every citizen should be able to pursue.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.