New Delhi: Netherlands’ sole postal service and the Dutch embassy in New Delhi have denied issuing the commemorative “stamp” that BJP publicly claimed was released by the European country to mark 100 years of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
The Dutch embassy in New Delhi suggested the ‘stamp’ was “unofficial or unauthorised”. And PostNL, the only postal service that issues stamps in the Netherlands, confirmed that the design never went through official channels.
“This stamp has not been issued by PostNL, nor has it been designed as a personalised stamp. It would not pass our checks,” a PostNL spokesperson said.
A Dutch embassy spokesperson reinforced the stand. “PostNL is the only official provider of postal services in the country, including the issuance of both standard and customised stamps.”
“Since PostNL has confirmed that the stamp was not created through their services, it is likely that the item is unofficial or unauthorised,” the spokesperson added.
BJP, on its official X account, shared an image featuring the “stamp” on 10 October, claiming it marked the centenary of “selfless service” by the RSS. Tweets with the same text and image of the stamp were posted by BJP’s IT cell chief Amit Malviya and former Union Minister Prakash Javadekar.
“The Netherlands has released a commemorative stamp to mark 100 years of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). A significant gesture of international recognition for one of India’s most influential social organisations,” the posts read.
The Netherlands has released a commemorative stamp to mark 100 years of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
A significant gesture of international recognition for one of India’s most influential social organisations. #RSS100Years pic.twitter.com/PtTgbMzxiB
— BJP (@BJP4India) October 10, 2025
BJP spokespersons did not respond to queries on the authenticity of the stamp till Saturday afternoon. Malviya, too, did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
The image of the ‘stamp’ in the posts indicated it was not a Dutch government-issued product. On it, a sheet of ten stamps was priced at 15.75 euros, and a second sheet of five stamps was 12.65 euros. Below it, the “Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh” sought “donations” of at least two euros while placing any stamp order along with associated shipping costs.
An office bearer of the RSS denied a formal link with HSS, an outfit that has branches in the Netherlands and multiple other countries
The outfit is one of “many such organisations across the world formed by supporters in solidarity”, the office bearer said, adding that there aren’t any HSS members who attend RSS meetings.
Another RSS functionary distanced the organisation from the stamp controversy.
“Neither the HSS is an affiliate body of the RSS nor any member of the organisation is a functionary of the RSS in any capacity. We are neither concerned with the organisation nor liable to explain the authenticity of the stamps made by them. We also got to know about the stamp only through social media and have not endorsed it,” the functionary said.
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ThePrint could not trace any posts about the stamp by HSS on social media.
Emails with detailed queries to HSS, along with a reminder email on how and where the stamp was made considering PostNL’s denial, did not elicit a response.
The RSS, formed in 1925 in Nagpur by Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, was established as a volunteer organisation and today, it serves as the ideological precursor and base of the ruling BJP.
A week before BJP’s post on the stamp, Prime Minister Narendra Modi released an official postage stamp commemorating the RSS. The stamp captured the memory of RSS swayamsevaks participating in the Republic Day parade of 1963. “The commemorative postage stamp also reflects the unwavering dedication of RSS swayamsevaks who continue to serve the nation and empower society,” Modi had said.
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