Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday strongly criticized Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat?s controversial statement on India?s ?true Independence,? warning that if he continues making such remarks, it will become difficult for him to move freely across the country.

Speaking at an event on Monday, Bhagwat had stated that India attained its ?true Independence? on the day of the consecration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, and suggested that the day be celebrated as ?Pratishtha Dwadashi.? This statement quickly drew sharp reactions from political leaders, including Kharge, who was inaugurating the new Congress headquarters in New Delhi on Wednesday.

Kharge criticized the RSS for disregarding the historic significance of India?s independence in 1947, claiming that Bhagwat and other RSS leaders fail to acknowledge the struggles and sacrifices made by freedom fighters. "They don?t remember the 1947 independence because they did not fight for it," Kharge said, referencing the RSS's stance and accusing them of trying to rewrite history. ?Our leaders went to jail, struggled, and many died fighting for the freedom we gained. That?s why we remember 1947. It?s a matter of shame that the RSS ignores this and instead celebrates the Ram Temple inauguration as the real independence.?

Kharge also alluded to Prime Minister Narendra Modi?s comments, saying that both Modi and Bhagwat seem to believe that India?s independence began with Modi?s tenure as PM in 2014, which the Congress leader called an attempt to distort India?s true history.