Why is Sanjay Dutt suddenly endorsing far-right RSS?

WEB DESK: Actor Sanjay Dutt faced a barrage of online abuse on Thursday after he publicly congratulated the far-right Hindu group Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on completing 100 years since its founding.

In a video message shared on X, Dutt lauded the organisation, saying the Sangh had “stood by the nation, especially in times of calamity.” While the post was celebratory in tone, it quickly drew sharp reactions, particularly from Congress supporters, who accused him of “spinelessness” for praising the right-wing organisation.

Many critics also spoke about his late father, veteran actor and Congress politician Sunil Dutt, into the controversy. As a Member of Parliament from Bandra-Kurla, Sunil Dutt was known for his strong loyalty to the Congress party and was often accused by rivals of appeasement politics. He once famously lay down in front of a bulldozer to stop the demolition of alleged illegal encroachments in his constituency, a move his critics described as pandering to the party’s Muslim vote bank.

The backlash against Sanjay Dutt was not limited to political criticism. Social media users pointed to his troubled past, including his conviction under the Arms Act in connection with the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts. Although acquitted of terrorism charges, Dutt spent several years in prison for illegal possession of an AK-56 rifle before his release in 2016. Earlier in his career, he also faced arrests for drug-related offences, which led to multiple stints in rehabilitation.

The online attacks show the perceived irony that Dutt, once celebrated by Congress supporters as the son of a stalwart party figure, was now being vilified by them for praising the RSS, a group historically opposed to the Congress.

While Dutt himself has not directly responded to the criticism, the episode highlights how endorsements from public figures can quickly spiral into partisan flashpoints in India’s highly polarised political landscape.