New Delhi [India], August 15 : Congress leader Salman Khurshid on Friday demanded answers from RSS for not hoisting the Indian flag for 52 years after Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a reference to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh during his 79th Independence Day speech.
"There are two views about RSS in the country. One is our view, and the other is PM Modi and his allies' view. There is a huge difference between the two views, so I believe we should not touch that issue on such an auspicious day..." Khurshid said.
The Congress leader said that RSS had not hoisted the tricolour for 52 years and added, "They didn't hoist the Tiranga for 52 years, they didn't contribute to the freedom movement. They had opposed the Quit India Movement. They were urging people to join the British Army to fight the Azad Hind Fauj. So, they had no contribution to the freedom movement..."
He further demanded answers from RSS, saying, "They should give an account for those 52 years. You didn't believe in the Tiranga, didn't believe in the Constitution...Sardar Patel had banned this..."
Prime Minister Modi in his address to the nation from the ramparts of Red Fort lauded the RSS for completing 100 years of service to the nation and described it as the "biggest NGO in the world."
"Today, I would like to proudly mention that 100 years ago, an organisation was born - Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). 100 years of service to the nation is a proud, golden chapter. With the resolve of 'vyakti nirman se rashtra nirman', with the aim of the welfare of Maa Bharati, swayamsevaks dedicated their lives to the welfare of our motherland...In a way, RSS is the biggest NGO in the world. It has a history of 100 years of dedication," the Prime Minister said.
Early this morning, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hoisted the tricolour at the Red Fort on the occasion of the 79th Independence Day.