Hyderabad: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Telangana condemned the attack on Chilkur Balaji Temple’s chief priest, Archaka Sri Rangarajan. The attack took place at his residence on February 7.
According to reports, the assailants identified themselves as belonging to the Ikshwaku lineage and claimed to be working towards establishing a distorted version of “Rama Rajya” through private militias.
https://t.co/B5WsKMzfkM pic.twitter.com/51CU1kLRJ4
— Rangarajan chilkur (@csranga) February 9, 2025
Telangana RSS demands strict action
In response to the incident, RSS Telangana’s Prachara Pramukh, Katta Rajugopal, released an official statement demanding swift and strict legal action against the perpetrators.
“The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) strongly condemns the recent attack on Chilkur Temple chief archaka Sri Rangarajan. We expect the government to take strict action by conducting a thorough investigation and ensuring that those responsible for this inhuman assault are severely punished,” the statement read.
The RSS emphasized that the attack on Sri Rangarajan was not just a personal assault but a direct attack on Hindu society and its deeply rooted traditions. Highlighting the broader implications of the incident, the statement said, “The attack on Sri Rangarajan, who played a crucial role in the temple protection movement, should not be seen as an attack on an individual alone. RSS views this as an attack on the entire Hindu society, targeting the archaka and temple system that is deeply rooted in social values and Sanatana Dharma.”
RSS says attack ‘absolutely unacceptable’
The RSS described the attack as “absolutely unacceptable,” adding, “The assault on Sri Rangarajan, who has been working for social harmony, is absolutely unacceptable.”
The RSS also took a firm stand against individuals or groups misusing the guise of Dharma protection for personal gain. The statement highlighted the need for democratic principles and adherence to the Constitution. “A robust society grounded in humanitarian values can only be built when individuals and institutions operate democratically within the framework of the Constitution. Those who engage in selfish acts under the guise of Dharma protection for personal gain should not be tolerated. It was such individuals who attacked Sri Rangarajan,” the RSS said.
RSS leaders have called for decisive legal action to ensure such incidents are not repeated. The statement concluded with a strong demand: “RSS urges that these anti-social elements be dealt with as per the law, ensuring such incidents do not recur. There is no place in civil society for authoritarian tendencies that seek to control systems by taking the law into their own hands.”