“Will These Traitors Teach Us?”: Pawan Khera Slams RSS, BJP Amid Vande Mataram Row

Congress leader Pawan Khera on Thursday launched a sharp attack on the BJP and the RSS amid the ongoing political controversy over Vande Mataram, questioning their credentials to lecture the Congress on patriotism and the national song.

Khera's remarks come amid an escalating exchange between the Congress and BJP over the rendition of Vande Mataram during Independence Day-related events and the Congress's position on singing the song's first two stanzas. (Lokmat Times)

Khera Targets RSS, BJP

Reacting to criticism from the BJP and RSS, Khera questioned whether the organisations had the authority to teach the Congress about patriotism.

He said, “Will these traitors teach us?”, while attacking the RSS and BJP over their criticism of the Congress.

The remarks have added another layer to an already heated political confrontation over Vande Mataram.

Vande Mataram Row

The controversy intensified after a video from an Independence Day programme at the Congress headquarters circulated on social media, leading BJP leaders to accuse the Congress of disrespecting the national song. The BJP has particularly targeted Congress leaders over the manner in which the song was performed at the event. (The Times of India)

The Congress has maintained its position of singing the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram, citing the party's historical position dating back to a 1937 resolution. The Congress Working Committee reaffirmed this position at its August 19 meeting. (The Times of India)

BJP Hits Back

The BJP has strongly rejected the Congress's position and accused the party of disrespecting the national song.

BJP national president Nitin Nabin criticised the Congress over its stance, while BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari also attacked the Opposition party during the controversy. (The Times of India)

Union Home Minister Amit Shah had earlier accused the Congress of insulting Vande Mataram and demanded an apology over the controversy surrounding its Independence Day programme. (The Economic Times)

Congress Defends Its Position

Congress leaders have pushed back against the BJP's allegations, arguing that the party respects Vande Mataram while maintaining its established position regarding the portions of the song that should be performed at official events.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has also criticised the BJP and RSS during the controversy, questioning their role in India's freedom struggle. (The Times of India)

Political Row Escalates

The dispute over Vande Mataram has now become part of a wider political confrontation between the two parties, with both sides invoking the national song, India's freedom movement and questions of patriotism.

Khera's latest comments are likely to further intensify the exchange as the Congress and BJP continue to attack each other over the issue.

A political row has erupted over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent community event in Melbourne after organisers rejected allegations by the Congress that attendees were paid to participate in the programme.

The controversy began after Congress leader Pawan Khera shared a video on social media claiming that thousands of people were allegedly hired and flown in through chartered flights to welcome Prime Minister Modi during the 'Melbourne Meets Modi' event held on July 9.

Responding to the allegations, the event organisers categorically denied any payment to attendees and described the claims as "false" and an insult to the Indian-Australian community. According to media reports, they have written to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi seeking a public apology and withdrawal of the statements.

Organisers Defend The Event

The organisers said the large-scale event, attended by nearly 30,000 members of the Indian diaspora, was funded independently by community organisations and volunteers. They clarified that neither the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Government of India nor the Australian Government financed the programme.

Addressing the issue of chartered flights, organisers said the travel arrangements were the result of months of planning, coordination and logistical preparation. They stated that volunteers spent significant time managing bookings, passenger coordination and administrative work, while many also contributed financially and sacrificed personal and professional commitments to ensure the event's success.

According to the organisers, arranging chartered flights was intended only to facilitate travel for community members and should not be interpreted as evidence that attendees were paid.

Congress Questions Crowd Mobilisation

The Congress has alleged that a large number of Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) were brought to the event through paid arrangements. Pawan Khera claimed on social media that between 25,000 and 30,000 people attended after being financially compensated.

The organisers, however, rejected the allegation, stating that while political criticism of Prime Minister Modi or the BJP is part of democratic discourse, questioning the voluntary participation of the Indian diaspora unfairly undermines the community's independence and commitment.

PM Modi Addresses Indian Community

Prime Minister Modi addressed the Indian community in Melbourne during his two-day visit to Australia on July 9 and 10. During the programme, he praised India's growing global stature in sectors such as pharmaceuticals, defence and technology.

Referring to Operation Sindoor, the Prime Minister said India's defence capabilities had attracted worldwide attention, adding that the operation demonstrated the country's increasing military strength and credibility.

The event also witnessed a symbolic moment when attendees switched on their mobile phone flashlights at Modi's request as a gesture of appreciation for Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

India-Australia Partnership Expanded

During the visit, India and Australia announced agreements covering defence cooperation, trade, critical minerals, energy and space collaboration.

Among the key announcements was the decision to jointly develop a Critical Minerals Corridor, aimed at strengthening supply chains for strategic resources. The two countries also agreed to establish a space tracking terminal on Australia's Cocos (Keeling) Islands, which will support India's Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission.

The visit further strengthened the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between India and Australia, with both governments reaffirming cooperation across economic, security and emerging technology sectors.

While the political controversy surrounding the Melbourne event continues, the organisers have maintained that the gathering reflected genuine participation by the Indian diaspora and have called for the allegations against the community to be withdrawn.

Congress leader says 'corruption cannot be accepted in Ram's name'; addresses 10-day DCC training camp valedictory

Congress national media and publicity department chief Pawan Khera arrived in Raipur on Sunday night for the valedictory function of the party's 10-day residential training camp for District Congress Committee (DCC) presidents. Even before he addressed the gathering, Khera launched a blistering attack on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), asserting that the organisation had no contribution to India's freedom struggle.

"Organisations like the RSS have never participated in the freedom movement. They have only worked to weaken the country and Hindu society," Khera told reporters upon his arrival.

Taking aim at RSS senior pracharak Indresh Kumar's recent remarks on Mahatma Gandhi, Khera said he would not waste much time responding to such statements, adding that issues concerning the public were far more important.

 'Corruption in Ram's name unacceptable'

The Congress leader also trained his guns on the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust amid the ongoing donation controversy. Khera questioned the functioning of the temple trust, alleging it was constituted under RSS influence and oversight, with the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) also keeping a watch on its activities.

"Corruption in the name of Lord Ram cannot be accepted," Khera said, linking the trust to what he described as a pattern of irregularities in temple administration.

The controversy relates to the resignation of Trust General Secretary Champat Rai and Trustee Anil Mishra following allegations of misappropriation of donations. Khera has previously questioned the RSS and the Centre's role in temple administration, demanding an impartial probe.

 Training camp concludes in Raipur

The 10-day training camp, which began on June 20, saw participation from newly appointed DCC presidents from across the country. The camp focused on organisational strengthening, election preparedness, media management and better public communication.

Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, had earlier visited the camp in Abhanpur on Sunday, spending 40 minutes with senior leaders and holding direct interactions with district and city presidents.

Khera praised the training initiative and called for similar camps to be conducted nationwide. "Such a long camp was organised, in which Rahul Gandhi also came," Khera told reporters.

 Political context

The Congress attack comes at a time when the party is looking to rebuild its organisational structure ahead of upcoming elections. The Raipur camp was seen as a key initiative to align district-level leadership with the party's central messaging.

Earlier, on June 19, Khera had launched a scathing attack on the RSS, backing Karnataka minister Priyank Kharge's call for the RSS to register as an organisation and operate under the Constitution.

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, meanwhile, used the occasion to criticise the Congress over the 1975 Emergency, accusing Indira Gandhi of suppressing constitutional rights.

SC grants anticipatory bail to Pawan Khera, cites political rivalry in Assam defamation case 

Congress leader faces charges over remarks against CM’s wife; top court says liberty must be protected in politically charged complaints

Supreme Court intervenes

The Supreme Court on Wednesday granted anticipatory bail to Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera in a criminal defamation and forgery case registered by Assam Police. A bench of Justices JK Maheshwari and AS Chandurkar set aside the Gauhati High Court’s earlier order that had refused pre-arrest protection to the leader.

The court observed that the circumstances surrounding the case indicated an element of political rivalry, adding that personal liberty cannot be compromised in disputes that appear to stem from electoral or ideological conflict.

Case filed after press conference remarks

The legal trouble for Khera began after he alleged at a recent press conference that Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s wife, Riniki Bhuyan, held multiple foreign passports and had undisclosed assets abroad. The complaint, filed by Bhuyan, triggered an FIR that included charges of defamation, forgery, and criminal conspiracy.

Assam Police officials travelled to Khera’s Delhi residence on 7 April, but he was not present at the time. Khera then sought legal recourse through the Telangana High Court, which granted him transit anticipatory bail for one week on 10 April.

Timeline of legal moves

That relief was short-lived. On 15 April, the Supreme Court stayed the Telangana High Court’s order following an appeal from the Assam government. Two days later, the top court refused to extend the transit bail period and directed Khera to approach the Gauhati High Court instead.

Khera complied, arguing in his petition before the Gauhati bench that his statements were made in a political and public context during a press conference. He claimed the FIR was nothing more than an act of political vendetta, especially since the complainant was the Chief Minister’s wife.

High Court had sought custodial interrogation

On 24 April, the Gauhati High Court rejected his plea. In its order, the bench said custodial interrogation was necessary to identify the sources who provided Khera with the documents he had cited. The court also observed that while political criticism of a sitting chief minister might be excusable as political rhetoric, dragging an “innocent woman” into the matter changed the nature of the case.

It clarified that this was not a simple defamation case and noted that Khera had not yet substantiated his claims with evidence.

What the Supreme Court said

After the high court’s refusal, Khera moved the Supreme Court again. The bench on Wednesday said liberty must be protected, especially when the alleged offence is rooted in political rivalry. While the court did not comment on the truth of Khera’s original claims, it made it clear that anticipatory bail should not be denied lightly when personal liberty is at stake.

Amit Shah Vows BJP Rule in Assam and Bengal to Curb Infiltrators

Union Home Minister targets Congress over alleged failure to check illegal immigration, sharpens attack on Rahul Gandhi amid Assam poll heat

Amit Shah on Infiltrators  

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday asserted that a BJP government in Assam and West Bengal would effectively curb and remove illegal infiltrators, protecting local livelihoods and the state's demographic identity. Addressing a rally in Patharkandi, Sribhumi district of Assam, Shah accused the Congress of sheltering infiltrators in the past and turning parts of the region into a haven for them.

Poll Campaign Enters Final Phase  

With public campaigning for the April 9 Assembly polls in Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry scheduled to end later on Tuesday, followed by a 48-hour silence period, Shah's remarks carried added weight. The Election Commission has imposed restrictions under Section 126 of the Representation of the People Act, banning rallies, processions, and public meetings from 5 pm Tuesday until polling concludes. Similar curbs apply to other poll-bound states.Sharp Attack on Congress  

Shah directly targeted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, claiming the party's standards had declined under his leadership. He criticised recent statements by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, who had reportedly called BJP-supporting states "illiterate." Shah defended Assam's legacy, citing leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Vikram Sarabhai, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "Congress should be ashamed," he said, according to reports from the rally.

The Home Minister claimed that infiltrators had already been identified in Assam and vowed systematic action to weed them out. "We will not let Assam become an infiltrator-dominated region," Shah declared, adding that infiltration would stop completely if BJP-led governments were in power in Assam, West Bengal, and Tripura. He linked the issue to local concerns over jobs, rations, and land.

Parallel Row Involving Himanta Sarma  

The day's developments in Assam were dominated by a separate but intense political row. Assam Police conducted searches at the Delhi residence of Congress leader Pawan Khera on Tuesday morning in connection with an FIR filed by the wife of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Khera had alleged on Sunday that Riniki Bhuyan Sarma held passports of three countries — Egypt, Antigua and Barbuda, and the UAE. He also raised questions over alleged overseas assets.

Sarma dismissed the claims as baseless and politically motivated. He warned of defamation proceedings and suggested the case could extend to Rahul Gandhi, whom he accused of backing Khera. In strong remarks, Sarma said Assam Police could "hunt down" Khera even from "pataal" and referred to historical resistance against "Islamic invasion." Congress leaders, including Ashok Gehlot, hit back, alleging the BJP was misusing police machinery out of panic ahead of the polls. Khera was reportedly not present at his Nizamuddin residence during the search, with some reports indicating he had moved to Hyderabad.

Border Restrictions for Polling  

In a related development, authorities closed movement along parts of the India-Bhutan border in Tamulpur district to ensure free and fair polling on April 9. Only essential travel, medical emergencies, and registered voters in specific constituencies were exempted. Markets like Dadgiri-Hatisar were also shut as a precautionary measure.

Background of Infiltration Debate  

Illegal immigration from Bangladesh has long been a contentious issue in Assam, shaping politics for decades. The BJP has positioned itself as the party that ended fresh infiltration through measures like the National Register of Citizens and peace accords with insurgent groups. Shah highlighted the Centre's efforts, including mainstreaming over 11,000 youth who surrendered arms via agreements with Bodoland and ULFA factions. Critics from the Congress side have accused the BJP of selective enforcement and polarisation.Impact on Assam Voters  

The twin narratives — Shah's focus on national security and the local passport controversy — have intensified campaigning in the final hours. Assam goes to polls in a single phase on April 9 across 126 constituencies, with results expected on May 4. Issues of identity, development, and governance are dominating discourse. Migrant workers returning home ahead of polls signal high voter turnout expectations.

Opposition parties, including Congress and regional outfits like AJP, have raised concerns over alleged misuse of agencies and demanded a level playing field. BJP leaders, meanwhile, project confidence, with Chief Minister Sarma claiming the party was headed for a comfortable victory.

What Lies Ahead  

As the silence period begins, all eyes will be on polling day arrangements and voter turnout. The infiltration debate is likely to echo in post-poll analysis, especially if results in Assam and later phases in West Bengal reflect shifting public priorities. Political observers note that the BJP is banking on its record of border management and development initiatives, while the Congress is attempting to frame the election around governance and personal allegations.

The coming days will test how these issues translate into votes in a state where demographic concerns have historically influenced electoral outcomes.

MEA Dismisses 'Trashy Ruminations' as PM Modi's Name Surfaces in Epstein Files

India's foreign ministry has issued a sharp rebuttal after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's name was referenced in the massive new release of documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, labeling the claims as "trashy ruminations by a convicted criminal".

The controversy erupted following the U.S. Department of Justice's release of 3.5 million pages of records under the Epstein Files Transparency Act on January 30, 2026. The documents included an email where Epstein claimed the Indian PM followed his advice during a 2017 visit to Israel, prompting a fierce political clash in New Delhi.

The MEA's Forceful Rejection

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) moved swiftly to address the reference, confirming only the factual occurrence of the Prime Minister's landmark Israel visit in July 2017—the first by an Indian PM. In an official statement, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal dismissed all other insinuations in the email with "the utmost contempt".

"The rest of the allusions in the email are little more than trashy ruminations by a convicted criminal," the statement read. The government's response aimed to shut down what it framed as a baseless narrative rooted in the claims of a disgraced individual.

 The Allegation and Political Fallout

The specific email cited by opposition leaders was sent by Epstein on July 6, 2017—the final day of PM Modi's Israel trip. In it, Epstein wrote, "The Indian Prime Minister Modi took advice and danced and sang in Israel for the benefit of the US president. They had met a few weeks ago.. it worked !".

The Congress party seized on the reference, with spokesperson Pawan Khera calling it a "matter of national shame" and demanding the Prime Minister personally answer three questions about the nature of the alleged advice and what "worked".

The BJP retaliated fiercely, accusing the Congress of fraud. Party spokesperson Sambit Patra alleged the opposition had deceptively edited the email, inserting the word "his" to falsely construct a phrase claiming Modi took "his advice" from Epstein.

Beyond the 2017 Email: Other India References

The tranche of documents contained more than a dozen emails and messages referencing India. They included:

A 2014 email from current Petroleum Minister Hardeep Puri to Epstein, written before Puri joined the government, detailing strategic reasons for engaging with India post-Modi's election.

May 2019 emails from Epstein to Trump strategist Steve Bannon and Indian businessman Anil Ambani. Epstein suggested arranging a meeting between Bannon and Modi, claiming the Prime Minister was "on board" with certain ideas and discussing China and Pakistan as strategic concerns.

A Global Scandal's Latest Ripple

The U.S. DoJ's release is the largest under the transparency act and includes emails linking Epstein to a global network of politicians, celebrities, and billionaires. The files mention hundreds of names, including former U.S. President Donald Trump, Britain's Prince Andrew, and entrepreneur Elon Musk, highlighting the financier's relentless pursuit of high-profile connections.

Legal representatives for Epstein's victims have criticized the release for inadequately protecting survivors' identities, with lawyer Gloria Allred stating the DoJ "should be ashamed of themselves".

Key Allegations and Official Responses

| Aspect | Detail | Source / Response |

| Core Allegation | Epstein email claims PM Modi "took advice" and performed in Israel for the benefit of the US President in July 2017. | U.S. DoJ Released Files |

| MEA's Response | Dismisses claims as "trashy ruminations by a convicted criminal," confirms only the official visit occurred. | Official MEA Statement |

| Political Reaction | Congress demands PM's explanation; BJP accuses Congress of editing emails and committing fraud. | Political Statements |

| Other India Links | Emails show 2014 contact from Hardeep Puri and 2019 messages to Steve Bannon & Anil Ambani referencing Modi. | Document References |

| Global Context | Files detail Epstein's connections to Trump, Prince Andrew, Bill Gates, Elon Musk, and other global figures. | BBC Analysis |

Why This Matters Now

The timing of the controversy is significant on two fronts. First, it demonstrates the continuing global ripple effects of the Epstein case, revealing how his influence operations attempted to touch virtually every sphere of power. Second, it injects a volatile element into India's domestic politics, with the opposition seeking accountability and the government vehemently defending the Prime Minister's integrity.

As of now, the MEA's unequivocal dismissal stands as the government's final word on the matter. With the Prime Minister scheduled for a second visit to Israel in February 2026, the diplomatic significance of the relationship remains, even as the political storm over the past visit continues to brew at home.