Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s (RSS) centenary celebrations in New Delhi on Wednesday, praised the organisation’s volunteers for their role in supporting Sikh families during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
“In 1984, during the massacre of Sikhs, many families took shelter in the homes of RSS swayamsevaks. This is the true spirit of swayamsevaks,” Modi said. He also recalled how former President Pranab Mukherjee had once been deeply moved by the simplicity and service of the RSS during a visit to Nagpur.
Highlighting the organisation’s relief efforts, the prime minister said swayamsevaks were among the first to respond during floods in Punjab, as well as disasters in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Wayanad. He also cited their voluntary contributions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 1984 anti-Sikh riots broke out after the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards, leading to mass killings, mob violence, and arson, with Delhi and Kanpur being the worst affected. Thousands of Sikhs lost their lives in the violence.
Stamp and coin release
At the centenary event, the prime minister unveiled a special postage stamp and a commemorative ₹100 coin. “The coin carries the national emblem on one side, and on the other, an image of Bharat Mata in Varada Mudra with a lion, with swayamsevaks paying homage in devotion,” Modi explained. He noted that this is the first time Bharat Mata’s image has appeared on Indian currency, calling it a moment of historical pride.
Congress reaction
The Congress party reacted sharply to Modi’s remarks, posting on X that it was India’s “misfortune” that “a communal and hateful organisation like the RSS is directly running the government.”
“The RSS, which today claims to guide the nation with nationalism, played no part in either the Civil Disobedience Movement of 1930 or the Quit India Movement of 1942 since its inception in 1925,” the party alleged.
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