Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Independence Day speech this year took a controversial turn when he hailed the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) as the "World's Biggest NGO". What was perhaps meant as a homage instead sparked a political uproar with opposition parties claiming that the prime minister was whitewashing the controversial background of the organisation and eroding the secular, constitutional fabric of India.

At the centre of the criticism lies the contradiction between the definition of the NGOs and the functioning of the RSS. Congress leaders have pointed out that basic legal requirements for NGOs, such as a valid registration certificate and transparent bank accounts, do not apply to the RSS. For many, the prime minister's praise is less about fact and more about glorifying an ideological partner that has long sought to reshape India into a Hindu Rashtra under the banner of "Ram Rajya".

Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera went further,........

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