Rahul Gandhi Criticizes RSS For Attempting To Erase India’s Diverse Traditions

On Thursday, Congress leader and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi targeted the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), accusing the organization of trying to erase India’s diverse histories, cultures, and traditions.

Speaking at a protest by the DMK student wing against the University Grants Commission (UGC) draft rules, Gandhi accused the RSS of trying to enforce a singular idea, history, tradition, and language across the nation.

During his address, Rahul Gandhi stated, “I have been saying now for some time that the aim of the RSS is the eradication of all other histories, all other cultures, all other traditions in this country. That is their starting point, and that is what they want to achieve.”

He further claimed that the RSS’s attack on the Constitution is part of a broader agenda to control India’s cultural and educational framework.

“They attacked the Constitution because they wanted to impose one idea, which is their idea, one history, one tradition, and one language on this country,” Gandhi asserted.

RSS Criticism Of Constitution Part Of Broader Strategy To Control Culture, Education: Rahul Gandhi

The Congress MP argued that the RSS’s criticism of the Constitution is a strategic move in their broader effort to control India’s cultural and educational systems.

“This attempt that they’re doing with the education system of the different states is just another attempt to push their agenda,” he noted.

Rahul Gandhi voiced his support for protests such as the one led by the DMK student wing, emphasizing the need to hold the RSS accountable for its actions.

“I wish that multiple protests like this happen because the RSS needs to be made to understand that they cannot attack the Constitution. They cannot attack our states. They cannot attack our cultures, our traditions and our histories,” he added.

The protest in New Delhi was in opposition to the UGC’s draft guidelines, which the DMK students fear could undermine the federal structure of India’s education system.

The UGC’s new guidelines, announced by Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, suggest that candidates for faculty positions in higher education can qualify by clearing the UGC-NET in a subject of their choice, even if their previous degrees are in different fields.

The guidelines also introduce changes to the selection process for vice-chancellors, broadening eligibility to include professionals from academia, research, public policy, administration, and industry.

Furthermore, the guidelines emphasize that the subject of a PhD degree takes precedence over undergraduate and postgraduate disciplines for faculty appointments.

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