Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge on Thursday, 25 June escalated the ongoing political confrontation between the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), alleging that the BJP reacts with disproportionate aggression whenever the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) faces public scrutiny. Speaking from Bengaluru, Kharge framed this pattern as proof of the BJP's structural dependence on the Sangh.

Key Allegations Against RSS and BJP

Kharge questioned the RSS's role during India's freedom movement, alleging that an organisation with no recorded contribution to the independence struggle was now positioning itself as an arbiter of national patriotism. He also pointed to the RSS headquarters in Nagpur, asking why it had taken 52 years for the Tricolour to be hoisted there.

The minister further challenged the RSS's commitment to the Constitution of India, asking whether the organisation's allegiance lay with the framework drafted under Dr B.R. Ambedkar or with an alternative ideological model. He also alleged that the RSS has refused to formally register itself or pay taxes — claims the RSS has not directly addressed in recent statements.

What Kharge Said

'Every time anyone questions the RSS, the BJP loses its composure,' Kharge said. He added: 'Ask the RSS to practice what it preaches, and the BJP hisses back.' In what was perhaps his sharpest line, he remarked, 'The BJP has always been the RSS's instrument, never merely its ally. Every response only confirms who is holding the tail.'

The Open Letter Row

The current confrontation traces back to Kharge's open letter to RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat, in which he demanded transparency on the organisation's legal status, registration, financial funding, and taxation records. He questioned how an organisation that claims to be the world's largest socio-cultural NGO — with thousands of branches across India — continues to operate without formal registration.

Kharge also sought disclosure of the RSS's office-bearers, assets, and details of its 'guru dakshina' (donation) system. The letter drew wide attention and sharpened the Congress's line of attack ahead of ongoing political mobilisation.

RSS Response and BJP Pushback

RSS leadership dismissed Kharge's demands as a 'political gimmick,' asserting that the organisation has functioned effectively for over a century without requiring formal registration or government oversight. The BJP, in turn, has accused the Congress of targeting the Sangh for electoral reasons.

What This Row Signals

The exchange marks a deliberate Congress strategy to force a public debate on the RSS's institutional transparency — a theme the party has increasingly amplified at the national level. Notably, this confrontation comes as the Centre and opposition-ruled states trade escalating political salvos. How the BJP and RSS manage this pressure in the coming weeks will be closely watched.