Shrikrishna Kulkarni, the great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, released a hard-hitting open letter to Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday (August 20,2025). The letter was not merely a personal note but a piercing commentary on Rahul Gandhi’s continued political recklessness and his habit of blaming institutions for his own failures.
In one sharp line, Kulkarni delivered a blow that has shaken Congress circles: “You were wrong when you accused the RSS in 2014, and you are again wrong now when you accuse the Election Commission of vote chori (theft).”
This statement deserves special attention. It is not the voice of a swayamsevak or a political rival but of Mahatma Gandhi’s very lineage. And yet, it vindicates what the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and millions of nationalists have long maintained that the vilification of RSS and now the Election Commission is nothing but political propaganda, a desperate cover for Congress’ historic failures.
The RSS Bogey in Congress Politics
Back in 2014, Rahul Gandhi tried to drag the RSS into the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi. This was not only a historical distortion but also a morally indefensible slander. The courts have long cleared the Sangh of any such involvement, and historians have thoroughly exposed the falsehood.
But Congress, unable to fight ideological battles on merit, has repeatedly demonised RSS as their perennial bogeyman. Kulkarni’s reminder is, therefore, significant. When even Gandhiji’s great-grandson publicly declares that RSS had no role in Bapu’s killing, the Congress narrative collapses like a house of cards.
Founded in 1925, RSS has quietly worked at the grassroots—building character, discipline, and service-mindedness in society. Its vision has always been one of national unity and Hindu renaissance. To accuse such an organisation of murder was not only historically wrong but morally obscene.
From 2014 to 2025: Rahul’s Habit of Attacking Institutions
What is most troubling is Rahul Gandhi’s failure to learn from history. If in 2014 it was RSS, in 2025 it is the Election Commission (EC). By alleging “vote chori,” he has once again targeted a foundational institution of Indian democracy, much like his reckless attack on RSS a decade ago.
As Kulkarni notes, these baseless statements erode public trust, sow discord, and embolden anti-India forces. The comparison between RSS in 2014 and EC in 2025 is telling: it reveals a mindset trained to delegitimise every institution that does not bow to dynastic entitlement.
For Rahul Gandhi, when people reject him, it is never his fault. It is always RSS, EVMs, EC, judiciary, or media. In this ecosystem of blame-shifting, truth becomes the first casualty.
Historical Parallels: The Real “Vote Theft”
Kulkarni’s letter also touches upon one of the most telling historical episodes—the Congress presidential election of 1946. Out of 15 Pradesh Congress Committees, 12 voted for Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. But due to Mahatma Gandhi’s persuasion, Jawaharlal Nehru was imposed as the President.
This single decision altered the course of history. Patel, the Iron Man of India, who had the vision to integrate India with greater firmness, was sidelined. Instead, Nehru’s flawed policies shaped post-independence India.
If there was ever an instance of “vote theft” in India’s political history, it was this moment. And how ironic that the heir of that dynasty now cries about vote chori. It is not just hypocrisy it is historical amnesia.
RSS: Custodian of National Unity
By juxtaposing Rahul Gandhi’s false accusations with the real historical distortions of Congress, Kulkarni indirectly highlights the contrast between two visions of India:
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On one side, a dynastic Congress, surviving by discrediting institutions and manufacturing conspiracies.
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On the other, the RSS, which despite relentless vilification, has quietly worked to strengthen social cohesion, discipline, and nationalism.
Even Mahatma Gandhi himself, despite his differences, acknowledged the patriotism of swayamsevaks. In 1934 at Wardha, when attempts were made to malign RSS, Gandhiji said:
“I have visited the RSS camp. I was very impressed by their discipline, absence of untouchability, and the spirit of unity.”
These words resonate today. They remind us that maligning RSS is not just politically motivated but also dangerous to national unity.
A Mirror for Rahul Gandhi
Shrikrishna Kulkarni’s open letter is more than a rebuke. It is a mirror held up before Rahul Gandhi. And what does this mirror show?
A politician who has inherited entitlement but not wisdom. A leader who undermines every institution—from RSS in 2014 to EC in 2025—just to cover his own failures. A dynast who blames everyone but himself when the people reject him.
Such politics may still give Congress a short-term talking point, but for Bharat, it is corrosive. Institutions survive on trust, and leaders who peddle lies corrode that trust.
If the great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi himself has stood up to say “enough is enough”, it is time for Rahul Gandhi to stop repeating the same destructive errors.
The RSS will continue to serve Bharat silently and selflessly, as it has done for a century. Whether dynasts learn from history or not, the Sangh’s work in nation-building will outlast every political propaganda.