Police Stop Sujat Ambedkar-Led Protest March Outside RSS Office in Aurangabad
VBA’s ‘Jan Aakrosh Morcha’ was halted near the RSS headquarters as protesters opposed the organisation’s membership drive and police action against two youths.
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad): A massive protest march organised by the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) and led by Sujat Ambedkar was stopped by police outside the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) office on Friday afternoon.
The ‘Jan Aakrosh Morcha’ began at Kranti Chowk and was heading toward the RSS headquarters to protest against the organisation’s alleged membership registration drive at educational institutions in the city. The rally also condemned the police’s suo motu action against two youths — Rahul Makasare and Vijay Wahul — who had reportedly objected to the RSS campaign near a government engineering college.
Speaking at the protest, Sujat Ambedkar criticised the police for filing cases against the two despite no formal complaint from the RSS. He also questioned the legality of the RSS, claiming it was not a registered body. “If ideological organisations are expected to register, the RSS should be no exception,” Ambedkar said.
Supporters at the rally carried copies of the Indian Constitution and the national flag as symbols of their protest. Ambedkar was joined by VBA leaders Siddharth Mokale and Amit Bhuigal, who reiterated their demand that the RSS produce its registration certificate.
In a post on social media platform X, Ambedkar described the protest as “historic,” saying it was the first time anyone had dared to demonstrate directly outside the RSS headquarters in independent India.
He said the VBA had planned to deliver three symbolic items to the RSS: a copy of the Constitution, the national flag, and the Maharashtra Public Trust Act. “These were meant to remind the RSS to follow the Constitution, to hoist the national flag at all its offices, and to register itself under Indian law,” Ambedkar wrote.
According to him, RSS members vacated the office before the march arrived, claiming it was closed. The city’s Deputy Commissioner of Police later accepted the items on behalf of the RSS.
Ambedkar accused the RSS of continuing to disregard the Constitution and the national flag, asserting that only Ambedkarite forces possess the political will to challenge the organisation. “We will continue our struggle, whatever it takes,” he said.
