On Kharge's Call To Ban RSS, Karti Chidambaram's 'Not Feasible Today' Retort

Last Updated:October 31, 2025, 18:24 IST

Karti Chidambaram disagrees with Mallikarjun Kharge's call to ban RSS, saying it is not practical nor sustainable in today’s legal framework.

Karti Chidambaram and Mallikarjun Kharge. (File)

Congress MP Karti Chidambaram on Friday differed with party president Mallikarjun Kharge’s latest call to ban the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), saying such a move would neither be practical nor sustainable in today’s political and legal framework.

The Lok Sabha MP from Sivaganga said that he does not agree with the political ideology of the RSS and the BJP, but such a demand is clearly not going to be accepted, as it won’t be practical or legally viable in the present context.

“This kind of request obviously is not going to be acceded to. There was a time when the RSS was banned, and then the ban was revoked. I don’t agree with the RSS-BJP’s political ideology, but I’m not too sure whether a ban is really feasible and sustainable in today’s legal environment," he said as quoted by news agency ANI.

He further said that since the current government is led by individuals “right from the Prime Minister, who are ardent members of the RSS," it was unrealistic to expect any such action. “This kind of argument — asking for the RSS to be banned — how is this government going to do it?" he added.

What Kharge Said?

The Congress chief on Friday demanded a ban on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), saying that the outfit creates “law and order problems" in the country.

“My personal opinion is that RSS should be banned. Sardar Patel also said that one should not work for the RSS while in government service. He had banned government employees from participating in the activities of the RSS and Jamaat-e-Islami, which the Modi government lifted on July 9, 2024. We demand that this ban be reinstated," Kharge said while addressing a press briefing.

He referred to Patel’s 1948 letter to Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, in which the then Home Minister had noted reports from his ministry flagging “suspicious activities" of the Sangh that led to Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination.

Kharge said that, according to reports received by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the climate created by the ideologies of the RSS and Hindu Mahasabha was responsible for the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi.

(With inputs from agencies)

Shobhit Gupta

Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben...Read More

Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben...

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