PM Modi’s Independence Day Speech and the RSS as an "NGO": Politics Behind the Remark
On 15 August 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered his Independence Day address from the Red Fort. Lasting about 103 minutes, it became one of the longest in history. But beyond its length, the speech stirred political debate because Modi referred to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) as the "world’s largest NGO."
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| PM Modi speech on Independence day |
This description immediately triggered controversy. Was it praise for the RSS, a subtle jab, or a political move to divert the opposition?
Modi and RSS: A Changing Narrative?
The RSS, since its founding in 1925, has described itself as a cultural organization. For Modi to call it an NGO raises significant questions:
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Does this mean the RSS will now be viewed like any other voluntary association requiring transparency and regulation?
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Is this an attempt to redefine how Indians should perceive the RSS in the 21st century?
The Congress party quickly pounced. Leader Pawan Khera asked, “If it’s an NGO, where is its registration certificate, where are its audited accounts?” The issue, thus, transformed into a major political talking point.
RSS and the Freedom Struggle: The Silence Continues
Critics highlight one glaring omission from Modi’s tribute—there was no mention of the RSS’s role in India’s freedom movement.
Historians point out that while leaders like Gandhi, Nehru, and Patel were imprisoned, and revolutionaries like Bhagat Singh embraced martyrdom, RSS leaders such as K.B. Hedgewar and M.S. Golwalkar were not directly associated with major independence struggles.
This gap is frequently cited by opposition leaders. Back in 2016, when Rahul Gandhi raised these questions, he faced a defamation case from RSS sympathizers—showing how sensitive the subject remains.
A Strategy to Distract from Election Controversies?
Analysts suggest Modi’s remark served two tactical purposes:
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Shift focus away from electoral fraud allegations: Recent elections in several states drew accusations of vote manipulation. By invoking the RSS in his August 15 address, Modi ensured the debate moved away from electoral credibility and towards ideological controversy.
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Signal to the RSS itself: Reports suggest tensions between Modi’s government and Nagpur headquarters in the past year. By calling it an NGO, Modi could be reminding the RSS to stay within its limits—social service, not political direction.
This balancing act keeps both allies and critics guessing.
RSS and Politics: The Blurred Line
Despite claiming to be apolitical, the RSS has historically played a crucial role in BJP’s electoral machinery. Media reports have documented RSS volunteers organizing thousands of small meetings, door-to-door campaigns, and voter mobilization drives ahead of state assembly polls in Maharashtra, Haryana, and Delhi.
This raises a critical question—how can an “NGO” be so deeply involved in political campaigning? If the answer is yes, then is the RSS just another NGO or effectively the BJP’s backbone?
Mohan Bhagwat’s “75-Year Rule” and Modi’s Future
In July 2025, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat remarked that leaders should step back after turning 75 to give new leadership a chance. Interestingly, Bhagwat will turn 75 in September 2025, just six days before Modi himself hits that age milestone.
Against this backdrop, Modi’s praise of the RSS sounds more calculated. Was it an attempt to appease the organization ahead of its centenary? Or was it a reminder that, NGO or not, the RSS won’t dictate the Prime Minister’s future?
The Gandhi Shadow: A Permanent Question
No discussion of the RSS escapes the shadow of Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination in 1948. In the aftermath, then Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel banned the RSS, accusing it of spreading “hatred and violence.” Although the ban was later lifted, the stigma remains.
For decades, the RSS has denied direct involvement, but Nathuram Godse’s links to the organization still fuel suspicion. Every time Modi celebrates the RSS, critics return to this history.
Conclusion: Praise, Warning, or Both?
Modi’s 103-minute speech on Independence Day may be remembered less for its record length and more for its RSS remark. By labeling the organization as the "world’s largest NGO," he simultaneously flattered it and boxed it in.
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If it was praise, it reinforces RSS’s central place in the BJP ecosystem.
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If it was a subtle warning, it signals that politics remains the domain of Modi, not Nagpur.
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And if it was strategy, it worked—controversy over the RSS overshadowed discussions about election integrity.
In the coming months, as RSS marks its 100th anniversary and both Modi and Bhagwat step into their 75th year, their relationship will remain the centerpiece of Indian politics.