Congress tried to ban RSS many times but people have accepted us: Hosabale

RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale said on Saturday, November 1, 2025, that the Congress had tried to ban the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh many times in the past, but the people of India accepted it.

He was reacting to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s remarks at an event to celebrate the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on Friday, when he said he supported banning the Sangh and likened its ideology to ‘poison’.

“This is my personal view and I will say this openly – this should be done as most problems and law and order issues arise due to the BJP-RSS,” Mr. Kharge said while responding to a media query on the need to ban the RSS, just like Mr. Patel did after the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi.

Stating that Mr. Kharge should learn from History and past experiences, Mr. Hosabale said, “They tried to ban us many times. He needs to learn from previous experiences. One of its tall leaders tried to ban RSS three times. What happened? The court and the people have given their verdict and the Sangh is moving forward.”

He said that those who want to ban the organization should provide a valid reason for this. “There can be no ban just because someone wants it that way. You want to ban the Sangh, which works for nation building…” he said.

Mr. Hosabale was speaking to the media on the conclusion of the three-day annual executive body meeting of the RSS in Jabalpur. He informed that issues such as the celebrations following the centenary of the organization’s establishment, the situation in Manipur, the drug problem in the border regions, and increasing religious transformations in the country were discussed.

The RSS general secretary also hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for visiting Manipur and asserted that there was no difference between the Sangh and the BJP.

Applauding the mass surrender of the Maoists, Mr. Hosabale called on society and governments to show adequate respect to such individuals and give them opportunities for survival.