Cong slams PM for praising RSS in Independence Day speech, calls it ‘violation of secular spirit’
New Delhi: The Congress slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday for praising the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in his Independence Day address. Describing the move as "very worrisome," Congress claimed that it violates India's constitutional and secular values.
AICC general secretary Jairam Ramesh accused the Prime Minister of using the Red Fort platform for "personal and organisational benefit," claiming that the remarks were a premeditated attempt to gratify the RSS ahead of Modi's 75th birthday. “The PM was tired today. Soon he will be retired,” Ramesh quipped, branding the speech “stale, hypocritical, and insipid” with little measurable progress behind repeated slogans like ‘Viksit Bharat’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’.
“The most troubling element was his name-checking of the RSS from the ramparts of the Red Fort, a blatant breach of the spirit of a constitutional, secular republic. It is nothing but a desperate attempt to appease the organisation in the run-up to his 75th birthday,” Ramesh posted on X, hinting at RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s suggestion that leaders step aside at that age.
Congress MP Manickam Tagore also hit out, alleging that Modi’s praise for the RSS was aimed at blocking his own retirement. “RSS’s legacy is not of fighting colonialism, but of spreading hate and division among fellow Indians,” Tagore wrote on X, adding that the organisation stayed away from key freedom movements like Quit India and the Civil Disobedience Movement.
Tagore said even Sardar Patel acknowledged that the RSS “did not participate in the struggle for independence in any substantial way,” calling the PM’s remarks “an insult to the memory of real freedom fighters.”
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Rickelton's ton in vain as SRH beat MI by 6 wickets
Mumbai (PTI): Ryan Rickelton's whirlwind unbeaten ton was overshadowed by Heinrich Klaasen's unbeaten 65 as Sunrisers Hyderabad defeated Mumbai Indians by six wickets in an IPL match here on Wednesday.
Chasing an imposing 244-run target, Travis Head (76 off 30) and Abhishek Sharma (45 off 24) shared 129 runs for the opening wicket to set the platform for SRH.
Klaasen (65 not out off 30 balls) then displayed his all-round hitting abilities to guide SRH home with the help of Nitish Kumar Reddy (21) and Salil Arora (30 not out off 10) in 18.4 overs.
Earlier, Rickelton's knock powered MI to 243 for five.
MI rode on a 93-run stand between Rickelton (123 not out off 55 balls) and Will Jacks (46 off 22) in 7.1 overs for the opening stand to power the side.
MI skipper Hardik Pandya scored a valuable 31 off 15 balls before being dismissed.
Praful Hinge (2/54), Eshan Malinga (1/29), Sakib Hasan (1/39) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (1/31) were the wicket-takers for SRH.
Brief Scores:
Mumbai Indian: 243 for 5 in 20 overs (Ryan Rickelton 123 not out; Praful Hinge 2/54).
Sunrisers Hyderabad: 249 for 4 in 18.4 overs (Travis Head 76, Heinrich Klaasen 65 not out; AM Ghazanfar 2/51).
