The history of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) came up for debate in the Assembly on Thursday, with the BJP labeling it a nationalist organization and the DMK criticizing it for the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi and its alleged non-participation in the country’s freedom struggle.
During a discussion on the interim budget and the interim budget for agriculture, BJP state unit president Nainar Nagenthran termed the RSS as a “pure movement” and said its efforts were aimed at achieving a strong nation. Intervening, Minister S. Regupathy asked what was the need to issue a certificate to the RSS, which was linked to the assassination of Gandhi, and asked whether such a debate was necessary in the House.
Congress leader K. Selvaperunthagai tried to intervene to say how Gandhiji led protests across the country for independence and was later assassinated. He also offered to send a book on the assassination to the BJP office for its leaders to read. Minister PK Sekarbabu joined the debate to point out that VD Savarkar, who was celebrated by the BJP, was among the accused in the Gandhi assassination conspiracy trial.
Earlier in the debate, Mr Nagenthran called the interim budget a “phantom” with no concrete future projects for the state. He said it could be because the DMK government had no confidence that it would not be voted to power in the Assembly by-election. Criticizing the DMK government for the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET), Chief Minister MK Stalin intervened and asked Mr. Nagenthran if the BJP-led Center would come forward and grant Tamil Nadu an exemption from the exam.
On Mr. Nagenthran’s allegation that the then Union Health Minister JP Nadda and then Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami worked together to provide 7.5% seats on a preferential basis to students who had studied in state government schools and qualified NEET, Minister Thangam Thennarasu asked whether the AIADMK agreed with Mr. Nagenthran’s view of the role of P.
When the BJP leader criticized the DMK government for the “increasing number of cases of crimes against women in Tamil Nadu”, Mr Stalin asked him to include the situation in Manipur.
The Chief Minister claimed that Tamil Nadu is among the states where women are safe and data from the Center also supported this claim. Mr. Stalin also criticized the BJP-ruled states over women’s safety. He said he had data on the situation in BJP-ruled states and asked if Mr. Nagenthran was willing to accept it.
Published – 19 Feb 2026 22:58 IST