Tushar Gandhi, great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, stated on Friday that he would neither retract nor apologize for his recent remarks against the RSS and BJP, despite demands from the two organizations for his arrest.
During the unveiling of a statue of the late Gandhian P. Gopinathan Nair in Neyyattinkara, Thiruvananthapuram, Gandhi described the BJP and RSS as “dangerous and insidious enemies” that have infiltrated Kerala. He also referred to the RSS as “poison,” prompting BJP-RSS workers to protest by shouting slogans and blocking his vehicle.
Speaking at an event in Aluva near Kochi on Friday, Gandhi reiterated that he stands by his words and refuses to retract or apologize.
“This incident has only strengthened my resolve to continue exposing traitors. This fight is even more crucial than the freedom struggle. We now have a common enemy—the Sangh—and they must be exposed,” he said.
He further expressed concerns that “the descendants of my great-grandfather’s murderers” might fire bullets at Mahatma Gandhi’s statue, as they are “accustomed to doing.”
In response, the BJP accused him of exploiting his lineage for personal gain. Former Union Minister and BJP leader V. Muraleedharan alleged that Tushar Gandhi has been attempting to “monetize” Mahatma Gandhi’s name for years.
During a BJP protest in Neyyattinkara, Muraleedharan suggested that those who invited Tushar Gandhi for the statue unveiling may not have been aware of his views. He argued that bearing the Gandhi surname does not automatically entitle him to the same respect as the Father of the Nation.
The BJP demanded his arrest, filing a complaint against him. Muraleedharan also criticized the Pinarayi Vijayan-led Kerala government for arresting five RSS-BJP workers the previous day for raising slogans against Tushar Gandhi.
A case was registered against the five individuals under Sections 189(2), 191(2), 190, and 126(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) on charges of unlawful assembly, rioting, and wrongful restraint.
According to the police, a small group, allegedly affiliated with the Sangh Parivar, protested against Tushar Gandhi at the conclusion of the Neyyattinkara event on Wednesday evening.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan strongly condemned the “Sangh Parivar attack” on Gandhi, asserting that any attempt to suppress freedom of expression would not be tolerated in a democratic society.
