A fresh political flashpoint erupted on Thursday after Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge reiterated his long-held demand for a nationwide ban on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), invoking Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s historical decision to prohibit government employees from participating in the organisation’s activities.

Speaking at a press conference in the national capital, Kharge said, “It is my personal opinion, it should be done.” He argued that several law and order problems in the country have their roots in what he called the “BJP-RSS nexus.”

Kharge also referred to a letter written by Sardar Patel to Syama Prasad Mookerjee, in which Patel, who was then the Home Minister, had said that the RSS had created an atmosphere that eventually led to the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi.

He further accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of distorting historical facts to pit India’s founding leaders against each other. “They always tried to portray a rift between Nehru and Patel when they had great ties and both had praised each other,” Kharge said.

The Congress chief reminded that October 31 marks both the birth anniversary of Sardar Patel and the death anniversary of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, adding that both leaders symbolized the Congress’s legacy of unity and resilience. “These two great leaders — the ‘Iron Man’ and the ‘Iron Lady’ — made immense contributions to the nation and worked to maintain unity. This is the history of the Congress and its contribution,” he asserted.

However, the BJP quickly launched a counterattack. Party spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla accused the Congress of exploiting Patel’s name for political gain and of having ignored his legacy for decades. In a sharp rebuttal, Poonawalla said, “INC is not the Indian National Congress. It stands for Indian Nazi Congress. Despite all their conspiracies, the court lifted the ban on the RSS. They said RSS was a non-political organisation and government employees can take part in their activities.”

He went on to allege that the Congress was siding with divisive forces. “The Congress is so intolerant that they stand with the rioters of PFI, SDPI, and MIM but spew venom against the RSS, which is working for the country's welfare,” Poonawalla added.