VP Stresses India Must March Forward Unswayed by Foreign Criticism; Rajnath Singh Rebuts RSS Myths

Vice-President C P Radhakrishnan on Friday said that India should focus on its own path and not be swayed by statements from other countries. Speaking at the launch of a book on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), he asserted that the nation must march forward with a smile, irrespective of what the United States, Iran, or Russia may say.

“Whether America says something, Iran says something, Russia says something — that is irrelevant. With a smile we should march forward all the time. That is the only way we can reach the top of the world,” Radhakrishnan said. He attributed this approach to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s governance, emphasising the principle of “nation first”.

The Vice-President released the book titled RSS @100: A Century of Service, Unity & Sacrifice by Shyam Jaju and Anupam Trivedi at his official residence. He noted that the RSS has strengthened ideals of service, unity, and national consciousness over its 100-year history.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, also speaking at the event, addressed what he called “myths” about the RSS. He said the organisation had been dedicated to the service of the nation and society, with an ideology “based not on discrimination, but on cultural integration and national unity”.

Singh highlighted the RSS’s participation in the freedom movement, stating that its founder K. B. Hedgewar went to jail during the struggle and that swayamsevaks sheltered revolutionaries during the Quit India Movement. He dismissed the notion that the RSS seeks to create a “Hindu Rashtra”, explaining that the Sangh views Hindutva as a cultural element inspired by Swami Vivekananda, not a strict religious identity.

“In the Sangh’s view, Hindu, Hindutva or Hinduism is not a strict or religious identity; this thought is inspired by Swami Vivekananda’s ideas,” Singh said. He quoted former RSS chief M. S. Golwalkar’s 1972 interview, in which Golwalkar said the Sangh’s vision goes beyond tolerance to respect, encompassing acceptance and respect for all, including Muslims.

The event saw both leaders praising the RSS’s contributions to nation-building and service, while calling for a better understanding of its role in Indian history.