October 2, 2025

Kerala’s Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is stirring the political pot! He has slammed the BJP-led Central government's recent move to celebrate the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) centenary with a special postage stamp and a ₹100 coin. In a strong post on X, he called this "a grave insult to our Constitution." Mr. Vijayan pointed out that the RSS stayed away from India’s freedom struggle and pushed a divisive ideology that helped the British colonial “divide and rule” policy. Sharing his sharp criticism, he said, “Commemorating the RSS centenary with a postage stamp and a 100 rupee coin is a grave insult to our Constitution. It legitimises an organisation that abstained from the freedom struggle, promoting a divisive ideology that aligned with the colonial strategy.” He didn’t stop there. The Kerala CM warned this "national honour" hurt the memories of real freedom fighters and the vision they had for a secular, united India. October 2, 2025, is Gandhi Jayanti, the day India remembers Mahatma Gandhi. On this very day, Mr. Vijayan raised fingers against the rise of “combative right-wing Hindu nationalism.” In a Facebook post, he reminded everyone, “Hindu majoritarian extremists had shot Mahatma Gandhi dead for defending secularism and democracy.” He called Gandhi’s killers “fanatical assassins” who saw Gandhian values as a big roadblock against creating a “homogeneous Hindu nation.” The CM said, “Gandhi was martyred for his idea of India as a secular, inclusive and pluralistic nation.” But shockingly, on the eve of Gandhi Jayanti, the Central government praised the RSS with a stamp and coin — even though the RSS was banned after Gandhi’s assassination. “One of the RSS’ fears was even the memory of Mahatma Gandhi,” said Mr. Vijayan. He accused the Central government of trying to change history by replacing Gandhi’s legacy with that of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar—an RSS ideologue who was tried in Gandhi’s assassination case—as the real leader of India’s freedom fight. Earlier on the day, at the third death anniversary of the late CPI(M) State secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan in Kannur, Mr. Vijayan warned about the “existential threat” the RSS poses to minorities and weaker sections in society. He said the RSS dreams of a Hindu theocracy that supports an oppressive caste system. According to him, this system looks down on minorities, Dalits, tribals, and backward classes as low-status citizens. Surprisingly bold, he claimed the RSS borrowed a page from Adolf Hitler’s fascist playbook, aiming to wipe out minorities seen as enemies for building a Hindu totalitarian state. Mr. Vijayan also noted that the difference between the Congress and RSS ideologies is becoming unclear. He stated, “An array of Congress leaders from the early days of the organisation had an affinity for RSS ideology. The profound ideological ambiguity in the Congress in defending secularism ultimately paved the way for the rise of the Bharatiya Janata Party in erstwhile Congress-ruled States in the country.” The fiery remarks by Kerala’s CM come at a time when the political temperature is rising ahead of big elections. The BJP’s move to honor the RSS on such a symbolic day has definitely set off a fresh political firecracker in Indian politics!

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Tags: Pinarayi vijayan, Rss centenary, Bjp government, Gandhi jayanti, Secularism, India politics,