‘Single most corrupt body in country’: Priyank Kharge targets RSS

BENGALURU: Rural Development Minister Priyank Kharge on Monday asked why Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) remains “unregistered” and alleged that the organisation is the “single most corrupt body” in the country. He also challenged the RSS’s claims of being a “social organisation” and asked why they were “interested in politics” when they claim that the organisation works for “nation-building”.

He also targeted the Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA government and added that they are “not understanding the true intent” of the organisation. Speaking to reporters here, Kharge said, “Everyone is putting sanctions on the RSS, understanding the true intent, except the government of India. Why is this body of individuals, which is not only the world’s largest network but also one of the richest networks, going unregistered? I am asking simple questions on which neither the BJP nor the RSS has answered.”

He further questioned the organisation’s financial and political involvement, asking, “If you are the world’s largest NGO, why are you not registered? How do you get your money? Why are you interested in politics when you claim to be a social organisation that is into nation-building?”

#WATCH | Bengaluru: On the RSS, Karnataka minister Priyank Kharge says, “Everyone is putting sanctions on the RSS, understanding the true intent, except the government of India. Why is this body of individuals, which is not only the world’s largest network but also one of the… pic.twitter.com/qkxXIguuPT

— ANI (@ANI) March 16, 2026

Kharge also criticised the RSS for its century-long existence, alleging a lack of tangible contributions to the nation. “The RSS is the single most corrupt body of an individual organisation in the country today. It has been 100 years, they claim, but they cannot list 10 contributions of theirs to the nation?” he added.

Meanwhile, on Sunday, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale emphasised that Hindutva is not just a lifestyle but a mindset, and there should be a conception of what it really is.

Addressing a press conference, Hosabale said that the RSS took up five issues last year from the perspective of society. He added that the five issues included social harmony, family enlightenment, environmental protection, indigenous conduct, and civic duty.

“Last year, we took up five issues from the perspective of society. Panchparivartan, which includes social harmony, family enlightenment, environmental protection, indigenous conduct, and civic duty. Our country was under British rule, due to which a colonial mindset persisted in our society for some time. We need to remove it. There should be a conception of what Indianness is, what Hindutva is. This is not just a mindset but a lifestyle. Our thinking is that discourse on India is essential for a positive world,” he said.

He further said that not only the RSS workers but all those institutions and individuals working for the country are patriots. “We do not believe that only RSS workers are patriots. Many institutions and individuals are working for the country across the nation. When there is mutual cooperation among these institutions and individuals, our strength will increase,” he added.

Moreover, he said that on the occasion of the centenary, the RSS discussed the expansion of the Sangh work from an organisational perspective. (ANI)