'Sangh United India, Congress Divided Nation': BJP Hits Back At Priyank Kharge Amid RSS Row

Last Updated:February 16, 2026, 11:45 IST

Telangana BJP president Ramchander Rao said that the RSS has played a decisive role in keeping the country united, while accusing the Congress of fomenting divisions.

The BJP on Monday mounted a sharp counterattack against Congress leader and Karnataka minister Priyank Kharge over his remarks targeting the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), asserting that the organisation has been central to preserving India’s unity.

Responding to Kharge’s comments, Telangana BJP president Ramchander Rao said that the RSS has played a decisive role in keeping the country united, while accusing the Congress of fomenting divisions.

“Priyank Kharge should remember that India stands united because of the RSS. The Congress has repeatedly divided the nation on various issues, including caste. Today, the RSS is the only force working to keep India together, and the BJP is proud to share its ideology," Rao said.

He further alleged that critics of the RSS overlook its contribution to nation-building. “Leaders like him should realise that without the RSS, they cannot even imagine a united India. Congress compromises national interests, while the RSS serves them," Rao added.

The BJP’s response followed Kharge’s remarks at a book release event in Bengaluru, where he questioned the sources of funding for the RSS and its affiliated bodies.

Kharge alleged that thousands of organisations linked to the RSS collect funds from multiple countries and claimed this pointed to large-scale financial irregularities.

He also said the RSS should be formally registered under the Constitution and law, vowing to continue raising questions about its finances.

In addition, Kharge criticised what he described as the politicisation of religion, alleging that religious texts such as the Ramayana were being selectively interpreted for political ends.

He also took a swipe at RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, accusing leaders of making social prescriptions without personal accountability.

The exchange has added to the escalating war of words between the BJP and Congress, with the RSS once again emerging as a flashpoint in the political battle.

News india 'Sangh United India, Congress Divided Nation': BJP Hits Back At Priyank Kharge Amid RSS Row

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