Kochi: Tushar Gandhi, the great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, has refused to apologize for his statement calling the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) “a cancer to the soul of the nation.” Speaking at Union Christian College in Aluva, Ernakulam, during a centenary event commemorating Mahatma Gandhi’s visit to the institution in 1925, he reaffirmed his stance, reported the Hindu.
“They want me to apologize and retract my statement. I do not do that. Once I say it, I stand by it,” he asserted.
Tushar Gandhi was allegedly detained by RSS and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) activists near Neyyattinkara, on the outskirts of Thiruvananthapuram, on Wednesday. The incident followed his speech at an event marking the 100th anniversary of Sree Narayana Guru’s meeting with Mahatma Gandhi at Sivagiri Madhom.
Condemning the act, he stated that such incidents were unexpected in Kerala, a state known for protecting democratic rights and respecting the opposition. “We must protect the soul of Kerala and push out such poisonous elements,” he remarked.
Labeling his fight against ideological opponents as more critical than the freedom struggle, he declared, “We now have a common enemy.” Kerala’s Leader of the Opposition, V.D. Satheesan, also attended the event, which took place near a mango tree planted by Mahatma Gandhi during his historic visit.
