New Delhi: A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled a commemorative stamp and coin to mark the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s (RSS’s) centenary celebrations, Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday compared the RSS to Zionists in Israel, terming them “twin brothers”. In a public meeting in Kannur on Wednesday, Vijayan said, “Zionists in Israel and RSS in India are twin brothers.” Earlier, in a post on X Vijayan had said that commemorating the RSS centenary is “a grave insult to our constitution”. Commemorating the RSS centenary with a postage stamp and a 100 rupee coin is a grave insult to our Constitution. It legitimises an organisation that abstained from the freedom struggle, promoting a divisive ideology that aligned with the colonial strategy. This national honour is…— Pinarayi Vijayan (@pinarayivijayan) October 1, 2025The Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary, D. Raja, also questioned the RSS’s contribution to social and cultural history, labelling them as reactionary, divisive, and sectarian. “What is the contribution made by RSS in social and cultural history? It is reactionary, divisive, sectarian, and polarising people and posing threats to the unity and integrity of the country. I challenge the Prime Minister to explain the role of RSS during the freedom movement. Let him explain to the people,” he said.Similarly, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh also criticised the government, stating that it was celebrating an organisation that did not unfurl the national flag for 52 years and supported the British during colonial rule.Calling the celebration “unfortunate,” Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya said, “This is an organisation which was banned by then home minister Sardar Patel for its role in Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination. It is an unfortunate coincidence that its centenary celebration coincides with Gandhi Jayanti.” “What is perhaps worse is that the government of the day is celebrating it with fervour. Any line of demarcation between the BJP government and the RSS today stands obliterated,” he added.While releasing the specially designed commemorative postage stamp and coin, Prime Minister Modi termed the RSS as the embodiment of “timeless national consciousness,” adding that in the mission of building a developed India by 2047, the organisation’s role would be crucial.