The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear the anticipatory bail plea of Indore-based cartoonist accused of uploading "objectionable" cartoons of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and RSS workers on social media. A bench of Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Joymalya Bagchi agreed to hear on July 14, the plea filed by Hemant Malviya challenging the Madhya Pradesh High Court order refusing to grant him relief after advocate Vrinda Grover sought urgent hearing in the matter. The high court had observed that it was gross misuse of freedom of speech. Grover submitted the matter pertains to a cartoon which Malviya made in 2021 during Covid and the high court said no landmark cases like in Arnesh Kumar and Imran Pratapgarhi, which dealt with life and liberty, will be followed. She submitted that the high court has condemned the cartoonist, "The offence is under which BNS which entails a maximum of three years of punishment," Grover submitted. Justice Dhulia ordered that the matter will be listed
An extensive discussion on plans to organise programmes, including Hindu Sammelans, across the country will be held at a three-day annual meeting of the 'prant pracharaks', beginning Friday, the RSS national publicity and media department head, Sunil Ambekar, said on Thursday. Addressing a press conference here, he said the meeting will also review the work done so far by various units of the organisation and firm up plans for the future. The three-day meeting will be presided over by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale, Ambekar added. All RSS joint general secretaries, heads of karya vibhags (various departments) and national organisational secretaries) of 32 RSS-affiliates, including the BJP, will be present at the meeting. "The meeting will primarily focus on organisational matters. This is not a decision-making meeting. The discussions will revolve around the progress and experiences of organisational work in various 'prants'. The meeting will also
Several opposition parties on Friday denounced RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale's call to review the words 'socialist' and 'secular' in the Preamble, terming it a "deliberate assault" on the soul of the Constitution. The attack came a day after the RSS proposed reviewing the two words, saying they were included during the Emergency and were never part of the Constitution drafted by B R Ambedkar. While the Congress saw it as a "deliberate assault" on the soul of the Constitution and claimed the RSS-BJP had never accepted Ambedkar's Constitution, the CPI(M) said the demand exposes the RSS' long-standing objective of subverting it. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said the mask of the RSS has come off again as they want 'Manusmriti'. "The Constitution irks them because it speaks of equality, secularism, and justice," he said in a post in Hindi on X. "The RSS-BJP doesn't want the Constitution; they want 'Manusmriti'. They aim to strip the marginalized and the poor of their rights
Slamming the RSS for calling for reviewing the words 'socialist' and 'secular' in the Preamble of the Constitution, the Congress on Friday alleged that the RSS has "never accepted" Babasaheb Ambedkar's Constitution and that their demand was part of the conspiracy to destroy it. The RSS on Thursday called for reviewing the words 'socialist' and 'secular' in the Preamble of the Constitution, saying they were included during the Emergency and were never part of the Constitution drafted by B R Ambedkar. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said the RSS has "never accepted" the Constitution of India. "It attacked Dr Ambedkar, Nehru, and others involved in its framing from November 30, 1949 onwards. In RSS' own words, the Constitution was not inspired by Manusmriti," he said in a post on X. "The RSS and the BJP have repeatedly given the call for a new Constitution. "This was Mr (Narendra) Modi's campaign cry during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The people o
RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale on Thursday demanded that the Congress must apologise for the imposition of Emergency by the Indira Gandhi government 50 years ago. Addressing an event here, Hosabale also made a strong pitch for the removal of two words -- socialist and secular -- from the preamble of the Constitution, which were inserted by the erstwhile Congress government during Emergency. Recalling the days of Emergency, which was announced on June 25, 1975, Hosabale said while thousands of people were put in jail and tortured during that period, freedom of the judiciary and media was also curtailed. The days of Emergency also witnessed large-scale forced sterlisation, the RSS leader said. "Those who did such things are today moving around with Constitution's copy. They have still not apologised... Apologise," he said. "Your ancestors did it... You must apologise for this to the country," Hosabale said.
Madhya Pradesh Congress leaders on Tuesday said the party will launch a campaign against "hurdles" being created by the RSS-BJP in the installation of Dr BR Ambedkar's statue at the Gwalior bench complex of the MP High Court. Efforts were being made by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to negate Ambedkar's contribution as the architect of the Constitution, the opposition Congress leaders alleged at a press conference here. The Congress displayed posters and hoardings recently put up in Gwalior and alleged the BJP was trying to present BN Rau, a former civil servant and constitutional advisor to the Constituent Assembly, as the main architect of the Constitution. Congress general secretary and Madhya Pradesh in-charge Harish Chaudhary said it was unfortunate that a "controversy" was being created over the installation of Ambedkar's statue in the HC bench premises in Gwalior. "Under a well-planned conspiracy, questions are being raised on the
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat, here on Monday called on students, businessmen, and the public to reflect on how they can contribute to the country's development by pledging to use 'Swadeshi' products -- those made within India -- in their daily lives. This information was shared by RSS Prant Prachar Pramukh Dr. Anupam. Anupam quoted Bhagwat saying, "This resolution should start with our own lives and spread through our families, localities, cities, and states. The money earned in our country should remain in the country and be used for its development. We must conduct our lives with this mindset." Bhagwat emphasised that only a deep sense of patriotism in everyday life can propel both individuals and the nation forward, enabling comprehensive progress. Addressing students and businessmen, Bhagwat asked, "If you are students, how much time do you dedicate to your studies? If businessmen, how long do you work in your trade?" He added that whatever work an RSS
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Thursday said the mutual understanding shown by the political class following the Pahalgam terror attack and action taken by India later should continue and become a permanent feature. The society also gave a message of unity, Bhagwat said, addressing the concluding event of the Karyakarta Vikas Varg for RSS volunteers. After the heinous terror attack, people were sad and angry and wanted the culprits to be punished. Action was taken and punishment was meted out, Bhagwat said. Everyone saw the grit of our country's decision makers in the action taken after the Pahalgam terror attack, he said. Action was taken after the heinous terror attack in Pahalgam. The valour of our army shone once again in it. The firmness of the administration was also seen. The political class also showed mutual understanding. The society also gave the message of its unity. This should remain continue and be a permanent feature, he said. India should be self-dependent in matters
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday alleged that eligible candidates from SC, ST, and OBC communities were being deliberately declared 'not found suitable' to keep them away from education and leadership. Gandhi made the remark in a post on X, sharing a video of his recent interaction with students of the Delhi University Students Union (DUSU)." "'Not Found Suitable' is the new Manuvaad now. Eligible candidates from SC/ST/OBC are being deliberately declared 'unsuitable' so that they are kept away from education and leadership," the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said in his post in Hindi. 'Manuvaad' is the ethos of a society governed by Manusmriti. Gandhi quoted B R Ambedkar to hail education as the biggest weapon for equality, and accused the Narendra Modi-led Union government and the RSS of subverting this power. "... the Modi government is busy blunting that weapon," he said. Gandhi said that more than 60 per cent of the reserved posts of Professor and more than 30
RSS-affiliate Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM) on Wednesday urged the government to impose economic sanctions, suspend civil aviation links, discourage outbound tourism and re-evaluate diplomatic engagements with Turkey due to its "unholy alliance" with Pakistan which directly compromises India's security. The SJM also appealed to the people of India to avoid travelling to Turkey and boycott its products in solidarity with the country's soldiers and national interest. This comes amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan following their four-day military confrontation. The conflict saw Pakistan unleash swarms of Turkish drones to target Indian military facilities. "It is shocking to note that Turkey, the second-largest arms supplier to Pakistan after China, has played a key role in modernising Pakistan's navy and enhancing its aerial warfare capabilities. "This defence collaboration is not just commercial; it is ideological, targeting the stability of South Asia and emboldening
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on Wednesday said Operation Sindoor was the beginning of justice for the Pahalgam terror strike victims. Retaliating against the Pahalgam terror attack, Indian armed forces early Wednesday carried out missile strikes on nine terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir, including the Jaish-e-Mohammad stronghold of Bahawalpur and Lashkar-e-Taiba's base in Muridke. "Beginning of justicefor the victims of PahalgamBehining --'Operation Sindoor', Justice served. Nation supports," RSS national media and publicity department head Sunil Ambekar said in a post in X. "Jai Hind. Long live mother India," he added. The military strikes were conducted under Operation Sindoor two weeks after the Pahalgam attack that killed 26 civilians. The nine targets struck under 'Operation Sindoor', four in Pakistan and five in Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir, were chosen by the IAF after receiving intelligence inputs about terror camps operating under the guise o
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday urged for the allocation of sufficient funds and the fixing of a time limit for the caste enumeration in the next census, which has been announced by the Central government. The Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha said the Congress and other opposition parties had demanded a caste census and staged agitations for it throughout the country, and now they are happy that they have achieved what they intended. "I had written a letter two years back on the caste census along with the general census. They did not agree then, but now the government has taken a decision to conduct a caste census along with the general census. It is a good thing, and we will fully cooperate with this. But they (BJP) should not comment unnecessarily on Jawaharlal Nehru, saying he was opposed to it, this and that," Kharge said. Speaking to reporters here, he said the Jan Sangh and RSS, by birth, are against reservation, and such people are now talking about the
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat emphasised the importance of unity and closeness in society, stating that while evil must be eliminated, true strength lies in togetherness
Union ministers, CMs, economists to attend
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat concluded his five-day visit to Aligarh with a call to Sangh workers to uphold and propagate principles critical for social harmony and national resurgence. In his interaction with RSS functionaries from the Brij region of central Uttar Pradesh on the last day of his visit on Monday, Bhagwat stressed the urgent need to revive and reconstruct traditional Indian family values, which he described as the "bedrock of Indian society." He said familial practices rooted in ancient Indian traditions, such as regular shared mealtimes, were pivotal in shaping the moral fabric of society. A second key principle highlighted by Bhagwat was the promotion of Samrasta' -- a spirit of social harmony. He urged RSS pracharaks to actively work towards eliminating caste-based discrimination, calling it a divisive force that weakens the social fabric. Bhagwat also praised Dr B R Ambedkar for his role in laying the foundation of a socially cohesive and equitable India. The nation
Banerjee alleged that certain groups were using the backdrop of an unfortunate incident" to promote a divisive agenda
He described Gujarat, where the Congress was once a powerful political force, as the most important state for the opposition party
The row over naming a skill development centre for disabled persons after RSS founder K B Hedgewar has escalated with the Congress on Saturday lodging a complaint with the police against BJP's Palakkad district president over his allegedly threatening remarks against MLA Rahul Mamkootathil a day ago. The Congress, Youth Congress and Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) activists had on Friday disrupted the skill development centre's foundation stone laying ceremony organised by the BJP-ruled Palakkad municipality. Following the disruption, the saffron party's district president Prasanth Sivan, on the same day, said Palakkad MLA Mamkootathil will not be allowed to set foot in the district. It is against this remark that the Congress has given a complaint to the police, a party source said. Responding to reporters' queries regarding the BJP leader's remarks, Mamkootathil on Saturday said as long as he has legs, he will stand firmly on them to speak against the RSS. "If they c
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said the Waqf (Amendment) Act is anti-Constitution and an attack on the freedom of religion, as he warned that the BJP-RSS will soon go after the rights of other minorities such as Christians and Sikhs. Addressing the AICC session on the banks of the Sabarmati river, Gandhi also said that an economic storm is approaching and accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of succumbing to pressure from US President Donald Trump on the imposition of tariffs. Did you see the photograph of PM Modi hugging Trump? This time he ordered Modi ji that we will not hug but will impose new tariffs'. PM Modi did not say a word. To divert attention from this they ran a drama in Parliament for two days, he said, adding, Where is the PM hiding? Referring to PM Modi's recent meeting with Bangladesh's Chief Advisor Mohammad Yunus, Gandhi said the Bangladeshi leader "gives adverse remarks and he is sitting with him". Where is the 56-inch chest, Gandhi asked in a swipe a
With the US imposing a reciprocal tariff, India should rework its international trade strategy and consider moving out of "exploitative agreements" in WTO, like TRIPS and TRIMS, the Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM) said on Sunday It said the agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) has caused India "huge losses" in royalty expenditure, apart from the negative impact it had on public health. Royalty expenditure by India, which was less than a billion US dollars in the 1990s, has now become more than USD 17 billion a year, the SJM, an affiliate of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, said in a statement. While the TRIPS agreement establishes minimum standards for intellectual property rights (IPRs), the agreement in WTO Trade-Related Investment Measures, or TRIMS, limits certain investment measures that distort trade. The US recently announced 26 per cent import duties on India, saying New Delhi imposes high tariffs on American goods. SJM national co-conveno