Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday addressed the centenary celebrations of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in New Delhi, where he spoke candidly about the ongoing issue of discrimination and untouchability within the Hindu community. Calling them a “big challenge,” the Prime Minister emphasised the need for continued efforts to eradicate these deep-rooted social evils.

“These issues have plagued our society for decades,” Modi said. “The Sangh has consistently worked on this serious problem. Every leader and member of the RSS has fought against untouchability and discrimination. Every Hindu is part of one family. No Hindu can ever be patit (low or outcast).”

He also recalled Mahatma Gandhi’s visit to an RSS camp in Wardha, where the Mahatma had praised the organisation's spirit of equality, compassion, and harmony. Modi also invoked former RSS chief Madhukar Dattatraya Deoras, quoting him as saying, “If untouchability is not a sin, then there is no sin in the world.”

Highlighting the current RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s efforts, the Prime Minister referred to the vision of “one well, one temple, and one cremation ground,” emphasising unity beyond caste divisions. “India’s soul has always been rooted in unity in diversity. If this principle is broken, India’s strength will diminish,” he said.

Modi also warned about the dangers of “demographic manipulation,” calling it a greater threat than infiltration. He argued that such manipulation directly affects the nation’s internal security and long-term peace.

The RSS, founded in 1925 by Keshav Baliram Hegdewar in Nagpur, has played a significant role in shaping the ideological foundation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Modi himself was an RSS pracharak before entering active politics.

Meanwhile, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) raised questions about the Sangh’s inclusivity. AAP MP Sanjay Singh questioned why, in 100 years of existence, the RSS has never had a Dalit, tribal, or backward-class chief. He also accused the RSS of aligning with the Muslim League during the freedom movement and opposing the national flag. “Why was the tricolour not hoisted at RSS headquarters for 52 years?” Singh asked in a post on X.

The centenary event highlighted both the praise and the scrutiny that continue to surround the RSS in Indian public life.