India will not have lasting peace until RSS ideology is dismantled: Kharge

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, party MP Akhilesh Prasad Singh and Bihar party President Rajesh Kumar being felicitated during an event marking the 139th birth anniversary of Shri Krishna Singh, also known as 'Bihar Kesari' and the first Chief Minister of the state, in Patna, on October 25, 2026. | Photo Credit: PTI Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday (October 25, 2026) attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), saying the country will not have lasting peace until the ideology of the RSS is dismantled.He accused the BJP-RSS of being anti-people, adding that unity can never be achieved as long as such an ideology exists in the country.Mr. Kharge also triggered controversy with his remark, “Modi ka baap bhi jayega” (Modi’s father will also be defeated), while participating in the 139th birth anniversary celebration of Bihar’s first Chief Minister, Sri Krishna Singh. He expressed disappointment over former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar joining hands with those who believe in the RSS ideology. “I am pained that socialist leaders like Nitish Kumar joined hands with the people who believe in the RSS ideology,” Mr. Kharge said.All top leaders of the Bihar Congress, including Rajya Sabha member Akhilesh Prasad Singh and Bihar Congress President Rajesh Ram, were present at the event organised at Babu Sabhagar.‘BJP-ECI nexus’Mr. Kharge also alleged a nexus between the BJP and the Election Commission of India (ECI), claiming that names are being deleted from the voters’ list at the BJP’s behest. he added that the Narendra Modi government is misusing central agencies against Opposition leaders.Attacking the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), Mr. Kharge said, “Gyanesh Kumar is not just working to make a party win, but he has also taken up the contract of getting officials BJP tickets and making them ministers, as revealed by a former Chief Secretary of Kerala. Modi ji has made a traitor the CEC; the BJP has betrayed the country.”Mr. Kharge accused the BJP of capturing governments in West Bengal, Haryana, Bihar, and Maharashtra by “stealing votes.” He called the ongoing protests against the special intensive revision (SIR) a “second war of Independence” and urged the people of Bihar to support the nationwide movement.‘BJP is anti-Dalit’The Congress president alleged that the BJP and the RSS support untouchability, and that Mr. Modi himself does not wish for any improvement in the condition of Dalits. He said that even today, the BJP and the RSS do not consider Dalits human beings.“Eighty years after independence, untouchability still persists in the country. When I visited Haldwani, the BJP and RSS members performed a ‘purification’ ritual on the stage after I left. How can there be national unity if you do not even consider a large segment of the country’s population as your own?” Mr. Kharge asked.Mr. Kharge remarked that he would pray to Lord Ram to grant wisdom to those who steal offerings from the Ram temple and to punish them — not only for stealing offerings, but also for stealing votes.He reiterated that the BJP is stealing votes, claiming that concerns Rahul Gandhi raised months ago are now clearly evident.“Two Election Commissioners wrote letters on 14 separate occasions, raising objections regarding Gyanesh Kumar’s intent to manipulate the voter rolls, yet their concerns went unheeded,” Mr. Kharge said.‘Promises broken’He questioned the BJP, asking what happened to the “black money” promised to be brought back within 100 days and the pledge to double farmers’ income. Mr. Kharge alleged that the Prime Minister has a habit of lying.He said that whenever the BJP is asked about its performance, it creates a ruckus by invoking Rahul Gandhi’s name. He added that Rahul Gandhi appears in the dreams of Mr. Modi and Mr. Shah, claiming that when Mr. Gandhi is present in the Lok Sabha, both avoid entering the House out of fear.Later, while speaking to reporters, Mr. Kharge said that Amit Shah is misleading the country and has placed his cronies in the ECI to orchestrate vote theft, adding that this is the basis for his recent claim that the BJP will stay in power for 30 years. Published - October 25, 2026 08:12 pm IST