‘RSS said education unaffordable, it’s admission of Modi govt failure’: Minister Priyank Kharge

BENGALURU: Reacting to the remarks of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on education and healthcare becoming unaffordable, Congress leader and minister Priyank Kharge on Friday stated that the Sangh had openly admitted on the failure of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, further criticising Modi government for wasting 11 years on PR and photo-ops.

In a post on social media X, Kharge dared the minister of Modi’s cabinet to respond to Bhagwat’s claims. “RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat says education and good healthcare are now unaffordable and beyond the reach of citizens. An open admission by the supreme leader that Modi is a failure, 11 years wasted on PR and photo-ops while ignoring basic necessities like health and education. I dare any one minister in Modi’s Cabinet to come out and counter RSS Chief Bhagwat’s claims. Dare the 2 Rs. IT cell head and trolls to go after him for openly calling out Modi government’s failures. Anyway, what is world’s biggest “NGO” doing to solve this problem with their Govt?” the post read.

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat says education and good healthcare are now unaffordable and beyond the reach of citizens.

An open admission by the supreme leader that Modi is a failure, 11 years wasted on PR and photo-ops while ignoring basic necessities like health and education.

I… pic.twitter.com/wV0aS9fZ1X

— Priyank Kharge / ಪ್ರಿಯಾಂಕ್ ಖರ್ಗೆ (@PriyankKharge) August 29, 2025

On August 28, Bhagwat had said that every Indian citizen should consider having three children in their family, stating that population growth could serve both as an asset and burden, but a stable birth rate would keep the population in control while maintaining an acceptable level.

“Our country’s population policy recommends 2.1 children, on average. But when one has children, then they don’t have 0.1 children. In maths, 2.1 is 2, but with the birth of children after 2, it is 3, which is why 2.1 means 3. Every citizen should see that there should be three children in his/her family”, Bhagwat said on Thursday during the centenary celebrations of RSS in New Delhi.

#WATCH | RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat says, “India’s policy on population suggests 2.1 children, which means three children in a family. Every citizen should see that there should be three children in his/her family…” pic.twitter.com/1GR2Gv3oWl

— ANI (@ANI) August 28, 2025

The RSS chief’s comments come amid the government’s preparation for the 2027 census, which will give updated demographic data across the country since 2011, including the birth rate. However, a recent United Nations Report on the state of the world’s population has warned that India’s birth rate has declined to 1.9, less than the aim of maintaining 2.1.

“This is a vision for the country. Secondly, there is a concern too. Population is an asset, but can be a burden too. We have to feed everyone, which is why the population policy recommends this. In one way, the population is controlled, and on the other hand, it is sufficient; that is why 3 (children) should happen, but after that, it should not increase too much, looking at giving them a good upbringing. This is a thing to be accepted by everyone”, the RSS chief added. (ANI)