Congress MP Manickam Tagore (File photo)
NEW DELHI: Congress MP Manickam Tagore on Sunday stoked controversy as he compared the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) with Islamic terror outfit al-Qaida, saying the BJP’s ideological mentor “breeds hatred and propagates hatred”.Reacting to Congress leader Digvijay Singh’s remark praising the organisational strength of the RSS, Tagore said, “there is nothing to learn from the RSS,” which is the ideological fountainhead of Hindutva.”RSS is an organisation that spreads hatred. It breeds hatred and propagates hatred. That organisation is like al-Qaida. Al-Qaeda is also an organised group that spreads hatred and terror. There is nothing to learn from the RSS,” Manickam Tagore told news agency IANS. Building on Digvijay’s remark, RSS member Indresh Kumar blunted the attack from Congress leader Manickam Tagore by linking his remark to the “intellectual and mental bankruptcy of the Congress leadership and its members”.”Some leaders praised the RSS for its discipline, patriotism, and work in nation-building. This has caused turmoil within the Congress party, and it appears divided. In this context, a prominent MP has revealed his mindset by comparing the RSS to al-Qaeda… It reflects the intellectual and mental bankruptcy of the Congress leadership and its members,” Indresh Kumar told news agency ANI while highlighting the 100 years of work of the RSS. Reacting to Manickam Tagore’s criticism of the RSS, Shiv Sena leader Shaina NC said: “Congress MP Manickam Tagore, when he says RSS spreads hatred, I want to say, little knowledge is dangerous thing, when he compares RSS to the likes of al-Qaida, it shows, you have no thought process sir… The Congress has only spread hatred, terror, and for you to suggest that the RSS, there is nothing to learn from, let me please say, the only thing to learn from RSS is nation-building, which is for Congress to learn.” On the day the Congress marked its 140th foundation anniversary, senior leader Digvijay Singh’s remarks praising the RSS’s organisational strength drew divided reactions from the party leaders, raising fresh questions about potential internal discord.Some Congress leaders dismissed the idea that the RSS could offer any lessons to their party, while others subtly took veiled jibe at Singh.Digvijay Singh sparked row after he shared a black-and-white photograph of Prime Minister Narendra Modi sitting on the floor near senior BJP leader LK Advani in Gujarat. Singh commented on the ability of grassroots workers to ascend through the ranks to become chief minister and eventually Prime Minister, attributing this to the “power of organisation.”He tagged several senior Congress figures, including party president Mallikarjun Kharge, MPs Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Jairam Ramesh, PM Modi, and the official Congress handles. Go to Source
