Article Today, New Delhi:
A 26-year-old software engineer from Kerala, Anandu Aji, has died by suicide, leaving behind a 15-page note that has ignited a nationwide debate. The note, containing grave allegations of sexual and physical abuse in Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) training camps, has placed the organisation and its affiliates under intense scrutiny.
Shocking Allegations in Suicide Note
In his final note, Aji alleged that he was subjected to repeated sexual abuse and corporal punishment by RSS members during his childhood. He wrote that the trauma he endured at the time led to his long struggle with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and depression. The revelations have turned what initially appeared to be a personal tragedy into a broader institutional and political controversy.
Political Reaction and Priyanka Gandhi’s Intervention
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was among the first to respond, calling the allegations deeply disturbing and demanding a comprehensive probe. In a social media post, she stated that “if the charges are true, they represent a horrifying reality that endangers countless children across the country.”
She accused the RSS of maintaining silence on serious issues of child safety and alleged that the organisation’s influence shields it from accountability. Political observers noted that her sharp remarks mark one of the Congress party’s most direct confrontations with the RSS in recent years.
RSS and BJP Face Questions
The RSS, often regarded as the ideological backbone of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has not yet issued an official statement regarding the allegations. The absence of a response has drawn criticism from opposition parties and civil society groups, who argue that silence in such matters only deepens public concern. The BJP-led government has also been criticised for not immediately ordering an independent inquiry into the circumstances surrounding Aji’s death and the allegations raised in his note. The issue has sparked demands for greater oversight of youth camps and affiliated institutions linked to ideological or political organisations.
Calls for Transparent Investigation
Legal experts and child rights activists have urged authorities to treat the allegations with utmost seriousness. They stressed that the case should not be viewed merely through a political lens but as a matter of institutional accountability and child protection. Meanwhile, Congress leaders in Kerala have requested the State government to initiate a judicial inquiry. The controversy has rapidly evolved into a national debate on the culture of silence surrounding abuse and the responsibility of organisations that engage with children and adolescents.
A Tragedy Raising Difficult Questions
As investigations proceed, the case of Anandu Aji continues to raise uncomfortable questions about institutional power and personal trauma. It has also reignited discussions on the need for mental health support systems and mechanisms to ensure transparency and accountability within socio-political organisations. The coming days are expected to test both the moral and political resolve of the RSS and the government it influences.
