CM Siddaramaiah slams PM Modi for praising RSS in Independence Day speech
Bengaluru, Aug 15 (PTI): Hitting out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for describing the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) as the "world’s biggest NGO", Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday accused him of "speaking as an RSS pracharak from the ramparts of the Red Fort" rather than as the leader of 140 crore Indians.
Siddaramaiah claimed the RSS is "the world’s biggest for-political-profit, for-hate, and most divisive organisation—unregistered, non-tax-paying, and conspiring to pit Indians against each other."
Earlier in the day, Modi had hailed 100 years of the RSS as a "very proud and glorious" journey of the "world’s biggest NGO" and saluted its volunteers for their service to the nation. Addressing the nation from the Red Fort on the 79th Independence Day, he said the country is not built by the government alone but by the efforts of people across society.
Quoting from Modi’s remarks, Siddaramaiah claimed on 'X': "Let’s be clear: the RSS is not an NGO. It is an unregistered, non-tax-paying organisation that thrives on political profit and hate, and conspires to divide Indians."
He alleged the Red Fort was "not a BJP rally stage" but a place of historical significance from where the prime minister must speak for all citizens, not promote his party's parent body.
"By praising the RSS, PM Modi spoke as an RSS pracharak, not as the leader of 140 crore people," Siddaramaiah alleged, calling the remarks a "desperate move to appease the RSS" when Modi was "politically weakened and reliant on its backing."
The chief minister claimed Modi had "lost the moral right" to speak for the whole country by endorsing an organisation that "had no role in the freedom struggle, opposed the tricolour, and worked against the idea of an equal and inclusive India."
Calling the RSS an outfit whose ideology inspired Mahatma Gandhi's assassination and which was banned three times for "spreading hate", Siddaramaiah accused it of twisting Hinduism—"a faith of diversity and tolerance"—into a narrow vision that treats those outside it as second-class citizens.
He alleged the RSS has "engineered and fuelled communal violence for decades" and "corrupted young minds through its networks."
He asked whether the prime minister did not see that its "supremacist vision denies equality, poisons harmony, and contradicts the Constitution."
"Independence Day is a time to honour those who united India," he said, alleging that "instead, PM Modi glorified a force that thrives on polarisation, collaborated with the British, and mirrors their authoritarianism."
"Our freedom was won by people of every religion, caste, and language under the tricolour. No organisation is bigger than that unity or above the Constitution. No Prime Minister can turn Independence Day into a tribute to those who divide India," he claimed.
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West Asia: India supplied 22,000 MT of high-speed diesel to Bangladesh in March, says MEA
New Delhi (PTI): Amid the ongoing West Asia conflict, India has supplied 22,000 metric tonnes of high-speed diesel to Bangladesh in March and has received a request from Seychelles and the Maldives to meet their energy requirements, the MEA said on Friday.
At his weekly briefing, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal in his response to a query related to requests received from India's neighbouring countries for fuel amid the West Asia situation, also said that India is "finalising a government-to-government agreement" for the supply of oil and gas, which will play an important role in reinforcing energy security of Mauritius.
The conflict in West Asia has now stretched to nearly 50 days, with global ramifications.
"So, we have received requests from our neighbouring countries for supply of fuel, and these are being looked into, keeping in mind our own requirements, availability and refining capacity," Jaiswal told reporters.
He further said India has "supplied 22,000 metric tonnes of high-speed diesel to Bangladesh in March 2026, and further supplies have continued this month as well".
"You would recall that last month we had supplied 38 metric tonnes of petroleum products to Sri Lanka as well," he added.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visited Mauritius last week, the MEA spokesperson said, adding, "We are finalising a government-to-government agreement for supply of oil and gas, which will play an important role in reinforcing the energy security of Mauritius".
As far as Nepal is concerned, there is an existing arrangement between Indian Oil Corporation and Nepal Oil Corporation to supply petroleum products to Nepal as per its requirements. The supplies are continuing without any interruption, he said.
Energy supplies to Bhutan also continue according to the existing arrangement.
"As I had mentioned earlier, we have received a request from Seychelles and the Maldives to meet their energy requirements. We continue to be in touch with them in this regard, and are considering the request keeping in mind our own domestic requirements and availability of fuel.
"I would also like to add that our neighbouring country governments have expressed appreciation for the uninterrupted supply, fuel supply to them during the West Asian conflict," Jaiswal said.
Global oil and gas prices surged after Iran restricted the transit of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow lane between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman that handles roughly 20 per cent of global oil and LNG trade.
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