Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Friday cited the historical legacy of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel to criticise the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), asserting that India’s first Home Minister had once banned the organisation.
Akhilesh’s Remark Refers to 1948 RSS Ban
Speaking to reporters on the occasion of Rashtriya Ekta Diwas, observed to mark Sardar Patel’s birth anniversary, Yadav said,
“You can check on ChatGPT why Sardar Patel banned the RSS. Hindu Mahasabha and RSS both were banned as they had an alleged role in the killing of Mahatma Gandhi. This is as per ChatGPT.”
Historically, the RSS was banned by the Government of India on February 4, 1948, following Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination. The ban, approved by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, cited the organisation’s alleged role in spreading communal hostility and “a cult of violence.”
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Sardar Patel’s Correspondence and Revocation of Ban
Documents from that period show Patel describing the RSS’s actions as “a clear threat to the existence of government and the state.” However, he clarified that there was no conclusive evidence directly linking the organisation to Gandhi’s assassination.
The government stipulated that the RSS must adopt a written constitution, recognise the national flag, and function transparently. The ban was lifted on July 11, 1949, after these conditions were met.
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Congress, SP Demand Reinstatement of Restrictions
Akhilesh Yadav also announced that his party would establish a university in Sardar Patel’s name if voted to power.
Echoing similar sentiments, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the RSS should be banned again, stating:
“Sardar Patel had prohibited government employees from participating in RSS and Jamaat-e-Islami activities. The Modi government revoked that ban in 2024. It should be reinstated.”
