RSS to hold Vijayadashami event in Nagpur on Oct 20; Dhankhar, Israeli consul general invited

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) will celebrate this year's Vijayadashami festival at the Reshimbagh ground in Nagpur on October 20. The event also marks the conclusion of the organisation's centenary year, and is being described as special for the Sangh.

According to an official release issued by the RSS, former Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar and Israel's Consul General in India, Yaniv Revach, have been invited as guests. The Sangh said in its statement that the two are among the invitees to the festival, which is witnessing the close of the centenary year. The Sangh said the event is set to prove a milestone for the organisation.

Following RSS tradition, Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat will deliver the keynote address, in which the Sangh's views on current social and national issues will be presented. The chief guest at this year's event will be Sanjay Gupta, editor-in-chief of Dainik Jagran.

Discussion in political circles has intensified after news of the invitation emerged. The opposition Congress has targeted the Modi government over the issue. The party says the development exposes the contradictions in the country's system.

Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said that while the RSS has invited former Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar to such a large and important event, the Modi government has so far not given him an official residence. According to Ramesh, Dhankhar has been entitled to the residence since his sudden resignation in July last year.

By way of background, Dhankhar abruptly resigned as Vice-President and Rajya Sabha Chairman in July 2025, citing health reasons. Under the rules, he is entitled to a residence as a former Vice-President. A considerable time has passed since the resignation and he has not yet received one, an issue the Congress has now turned into a political one.

Amid the political statements and debate, the Nagpur event on October 20 is being seen as highly significant from the standpoint of security, organisation and ideology.