New Delhi: The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has joined the Narendra Modi government’s ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ initiative by changing its Twitter profile picture to the Tricolour, ahead of the 75th anniversary of India’s Independence on 15 August. RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat also changed his Twitter display photo.
The Centre’s initiative is part of its broader ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ event.
This comes a little over a week after the outfit came under criticism from opposition leaders for not following PM Modi’s request to people to mark Independence Day with the Tricolour as the display picture in their social media accounts.
“We don’t take any decision under anyone’s pressure. If the display pic of our official Twitter handle has to be changed, it will be in due course of time,” ThePrint had quoted a Sangh senior functionary as saying last week.
“The Sangh has already announced its support to the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav campaign and appealed to all Swayamsevaks to support programmes by both the central and state governments as well as by other organisations. No one should do politics over this and concentrate on celebrating the mahotsav,” prachar pramukh Sunil Ambekar had told ThePrint.
Historically, the RSS has hoisted its own flag instead of the Tricolour, with India’s first Independence Day, first Republic Day and the year 2002 figuring as notable exceptions to the organisation’s tradition. RSS’ social media handles also featured its own flag prior to the change recently.
In light of the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ initiative, the absence of Tricolour at the RSS headquarters was a point of criticism for opposition leaders. From Pawan Khera and Jairam Ramesh of the Congress to Y Sathish Reddy of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi, the ruling party and the RSS were branded as hypocritical for “lecturing others” on how to mark the occasion of Independence Day.
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