B.K. Hariprasad compares RSS to JeM, Taliban; political row erupts

Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President B.K. Hariprasad on Monday (August 17, 2026) triggered a political controversy by comparing the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) with Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and the Taliban, stating that all three organisations are not registered in India.

Speaking at a press conference, Hariprasad said, “There is no difference between Jaish-e-Mohammed, Taliban, and RSS because all three are not registered in India.” The remark drew sharp criticism from BJP leaders, who accused the Congress of insulting a nationalist organisation.

Hariprasad also addressed recent remarks by Kerala Governor’s representative and former Vice Chancellor Mohanan Kunnummal regarding the Vande Mataram controversy. “He has rightly directed this at the RSS because they never sing Vande Mataram, nor do they sing the national anthem or hoist the tricolour flag,” Hariprasad said.

The comments come amid an FIR filed against senior Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi over an alleged disruption during the rendition of Vande Mataram. The FIR was registered following a complaint, and the Congress has denied any wrongdoing. The controversy has intensified political exchanges between the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress.

Hariprasad’s remarks reinforce the stance taken by Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge, who had earlier demanded that the RSS publicly clarify under which Indian laws it holds property, bank accounts, and receives donations. Kharge had posed five specific questions: Under what law does the RSS exist? Who owns its nationwide properties? Unregistered bodies cannot hold assets directly. In whose name are accounts run and donations like Gurudakshina received? And where are audited accounts and tax filings?

The debate over the RSS’s legal registration was triggered by BJP National General Secretary (Organisation) B.L. Santhosh, who said at a Hindu Jagarana Vedike event that the Sangh does not need legal registration. Santhosh argued that the RSS has operated since 1925 without statutory status, and that public trust, not paperwork, defines an organisation. He added that the RSS stood with the nation during Partition and other crises without state certification.

In response, Priyank Kharge wrote on X: “History cannot be a substitute for legal transparency. As influence grows, public accountability must grow too.”

Political observers note that the exchange highlights the ongoing friction between the Congress and the BJP over the role and legal status of the RSS, a volunteer organisation founded in 1925. While the RSS has never sought registration under the Societies Registration Act, it has faced periodic questions about its legal standing, particularly during times of political tension.

The BJP has defended the RSS, stating that it is a cultural organisation that does not require registration under Indian law. Party leaders have also accused the Congress of attempting to distract from other issues.

The issue is likely to remain a flashpoint in the coming days, with both parties expected to use it to mobilise their respective support bases ahead of upcoming elections in several states.