Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s son and Congress leader Yathindra Siddaramaiah has sparked a political storm with his remark likening the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh to the Taliban.
Yathindra made the remark at a time when Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi is visiting India and the two countries are preparing to revive the bilateral ties.
"They (the RSS) have a similar mindset to that of the Taliban," he said, alleging that the Sangh wants to enforce fundamentalist aspects of Hinduism the same way the Taliban issues diktats to ensure those tenets in Islam are followed.
VIDEO | Congress MLC Yathindra Siddaramaiah says, "Putting restrictions on public programmes of RSS is necessary."
(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/KwwFuxWyGA
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 12, 2025
“They believe that in one religion, only one view should be there. The Taliban issues diktats so Islam can be one particular way. They curtail the freedom of women. Similarly, RSS also wants the Hindu religion in one way only,” he said.
Yathindra further alleged that functioning as a volunteer group, instead of a registered body, allows RSS certain exemptions. “It is an influential organisation and they have to act in accordance with the law. If they are operating without registration, then it is wrong,” he added.
Bidar, Karnataka: Former Union Minister Bhagwanth Khuba says, "The son of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, MLA Yathindra Siddaramaiah, linked the RSS with the Taliban in his remarks. This shows the kind of absurd thinking some Congress leaders have—it seems like a strange… pic.twitter.com/CQ8wsGLNXH
— IANS (@ians_india) October 13, 2025
The Congress leader’s remarks came days after Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge urged the government to impose a ban on all RSS activities in government institutions and public premises across the state.
In a letter to the chief minister dated October 4, Kharge, son of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, alleged that "slogans are shouted and negative ideas are instilled in the minds of children and youth” at these RSS 'shakhas'.
"When divisive forces that sow hatred among the people raise their heads, our Constitution, founded on the core principles of integrity, equality, and unity, grants us the authority to curb such elements and uphold the secular values of the nation," the letter noted.
Another Congress leader, B.K. Hariprasad, too, demanded restrictions on RSS activities. "The RSS is not a registered body and has to take permission from the concerned authorities for functions in public places, such as grounds or parks," he said. |
