A political controversy has erupted following a programme organised in Mumbai to mark the centenary year of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Shiv Sena (Thackeray faction) leader Sanjay Raut has launched a sharp attack on the RSS and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), questioning the organisation’s idea of nationalism based on the list of invitees present at the event.
Speaking to the media, Raut specifically objected to the presence of noted singer Adnan Sami, claiming that his attendance at a breakfast hosted at the RSS chief’s residence was shocking. Raut referred to Sami’s family background, alleging that the singer’s father, Arshad Khan, served in the Pakistan Air Force and took part in bombing Indian targets during the 1965 India–Pakistan war, including the Pathankot airbase.
“It is disturbing to see someone with such a background sitting with the RSS chief. Those who invited him may not know this history, but this raises serious questions about the RSS’s definition of patriotism,” Raut said.
Questioning the selection of guests, Raut asked why the RSS did not invite lyricist and intellectual Javed Akhtar, pointing out that Akhtar’s uncle had been imprisoned in the Andaman Cellular Jail alongside freedom fighter Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. He also questioned why actor Shah Rukh Khan was not invited, noting that Khan’s grandfather had served in the Indian Army with Subhas Chandra Bose. “Are all these people anti-national for you?” Raut asked.
Escalating his attack, Raut accused the RSS and BJP of hypocrisy, calling them “two sides of the same coin”. He questioned the moral and ideological message being sent to the nation. “What kind of inspiration are you giving to the country? What lessons of history are you teaching? You sit with people whose forefathers attacked India and then lecture others on nationalism. This exposes your hypocrisy,” he said.
Further criticising the guest list, Raut alleged that several individuals present at the event were facing serious accusations. He referred to an actress who publicly professed love for the RSS chief but is reportedly facing a lookout notice in a financial fraud case. He also mentioned that her husband had earlier been arrested in connection with producing pornographic films. “Such people were present at the event. Does the RSS even realise how compromised its character has become?” Raut said.
Raut also broadened his criticism to the BJP’s tenure in power, claiming that while the RSS helped the party achieve its “acche din”, the country has paid a heavy price for it. “Because of the BJP’s rule, prosperity has vanished from the country. India has become a slave to America, and the RSS chief must take responsibility for this,” Raut said.
