After BJP, RSS files police complaint against Kharge
New Delhi: The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s (RSS) Assam unit has filed a police complaint against Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge for his alleged hate speech at an election rally in Assam. The RSS complaint follows the BJP’s complaint to the police and the Election Commission over the same speech.
In a statement issued by the organisation, it said the RSS through its Uttar Assam Prant and Dakshin Assam Prant units, has formally submitted police complaints at Dispur police station and Silchar police station respectively, seeking legal action over allegedly derogatory, provocative, and communally sensitive statements made during a recent election rally in south Assam.
The complaint states that the remarks “attempt to promote communal division between Hindu and Muslim communities, potentially disturbing public peace and harmony in Assam and influencing the electoral environment”.
It adds that such statements may lead to communal tension or clashes if authorities do not address them promptly.
Kharge compared the RSS and the BJP to a poisonous snake. He said: “Koi zehreela saanp aapke saamne se guzar raha hai aur aap namaaz bhi padh rahein hai namaaz tod ke uss zehreele saanp ko maarna yeh quraan mein kaha hai. Aur main yahi kahunga aapko namaaz todna hai toh parwaah nahi. Yeh zehreele saanp hai RSS aur BJP, inko agar aap nahi marenge, aap kabhi bachenge nahi (If a poisonous snake is passing you by as you pray, even the Quran permits you to stop praying and kill the snake. I would say there is no harm in stopping prayers, because these poisonous snakes are RSS and BJP, and if you don’t kill them, you will not survive).”
“I am the Prant Karyavah of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Uttar Axom Prant… On 7 April 2026 the president of Indian National Congress Mr Mallikaarjun Kharge in an election meeting addressed at Nilambazer, Sribhumi for the INC candidate of the constituency No. 124 Karimganj South LAC Constituency under the district of Sribhumi, Assam, with a view to cause harm to the life and liberty of RSS and BJP workers throughout the State of Assam made a highly communal remark in front of a huge gathering of public, most of whom belonged to a particular community,” reads the complaint, a copy of which is with ThePrint.
“He sought for vote in the name of religion and spread hatred by saying that if a poisonous snake is moving in front of you while you are offering namaz, you must stop the prayer and rush to kill the poisonous snake first—that is what the Quran prescribes,” the complaint adds.
Elections in Assam are scheduled for Thursday, with vote counting set for 4 May. The BJP hopes to retain power for a third consecutive term, with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma pitted against Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi.
The complaint further expresses ‘serious’ concern that such remarks are inflammatory and capable of inciting hostility, intimidation, and violence against workers and supporters of RSS and BJP while invoking religious sentiments during an election campaign.
“The complainants argued that describing the ideology of RSS and BJP as “poisonous” and calling for their elimination could be interpreted as encouraging bodily harm against members and supporters of these organisations,” the statement said.
“The RSS emphasised that democratic discourse must remain within constitutional and legal boundaries and that electoral campaigning should not resort to language capable of endangering social cohesion or public peace,” it added.
The RSS also stated that the remarks may fall under provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, citing concerns over alleged corrupt electoral practices and criminal intimidation.
The complaints were filed by RSS North Assam secretary Khagen Saikia at Dispur police station and South Assam secretary Jyotsnamoy Chakraborty at Silchar police station.
Meanwhile, Kharge who had stoked controversy over his statement in Kerala calling the people of Gujarat “illiterate,” expressed regret over his comments and pointed out that he has always had and will continue to have the highest respect for the people of Gujarat.
“Some remarks of mine in a recent election speech in Kerala are being deliberately misinterpreted. Even so, I express my sincere regret,” Kharge said in a post on X.
(Edited by Viny Mishra)
Also read: BJP files complaint against Kharge with EC, Assam Police, says he likened BJP-RSS to ‘poisonous snake’
