Jhajjar (Haryana) [India], June 8 (ANI): Congress MP Randeep Surjewala on Sunday, alleged that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) had aligning with the British during India's freedom struggle and opposing the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi.

Speaking to reporters here, Surjewala said, 'RSS never participated in the country's freedom struggle. They were with the British... Crores of people in this country contributed to the freedom struggle, and their leader was Mahatma Gandhi. I know RSS hates Mahatma Gandhi and worships Nathuram Godse.'

He further framed the current political discourse as a clash of ideologies, stating, 'In this country, there is a battle between the ideologies of Godse and Gandhi. On one side, there is the ideology of Gandhi, which created India. On the other hand, there is an ideology of Godse who wants to divide the whole country based on regionalism, caste, and religion.'

His remark came after RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat emphasised the collective nature of India's freedom struggle, stating that the country's independence was the result of widespread efforts beginning with the 1857 uprising, and not the achievement of any single individual.

Addressing a book release event in Nagpur as the chief guest, Bhagwat said, 'There is always a debate about due to whose efforts the country attained independence. But the reality is that this independence didn't come about due to just one individual. Efforts for this started in 1857, and the fire ignited everywhere; after that, the fire never died down. The efforts continued, and with everyone's collective efforts, we attained independence.'

Explaining the importance of collective thought and construction, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said, 'The direction of the Sangh (RSS) is decided by collective thought, the work of the Sangh is not the work of one or two people, the Sangh whatever one does and whatever one says, it is a collective decision.'

Earlier on June 5, the RSS chief strongly condemned the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, and lauded the Indian Army's swift and effective response while urging all political forces to maintain the spirit of unity that emerged in its aftermath. (ANI)