Congress MP Manickam Tagore has sparked a political controversy by comparing the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to the terrorist organization Al-Qaeda, stating that the RSS is built on and spreads hatred. This statement followed senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh's earlier praise for the RSS's organizational strength. The BJP and other groups strongly condemned Tagore's remarks, accusing the Congress of vote-bank politics and insulting nationalist organizations. Some Congress leaders, like Salman Khurshid, questioned the RSS's role, while others, like Shashi Tharoor, emphasized party discipline.