Former RSS Pracharak Returns Freedom Fighter Certificate In Protest Against Corruption

PM Narendra Modi, RSS Pracharak himself, commemorated the organization’s centenary year during his Independence Day speech from Red Fort even as 80-year-old former RSS Pracharak Prakash Pathak returned the freedom fighter certificate issued in June 2025 in disgust over rampant corruption in Maharashtra. The certificate signed by CM Devendra Fadnavis was given to him for 18 months imprisonment during the “Emergency”. Pathak had eschewed celibacy, become householder, participated in public life as elected municipal councillor in Latur municipal council and then corporation. When BJP assumed power in 2014, Fadnavis installed as CM, he thought justice would be done with the corrupt booked for pillaging Latur’s public funds. Associated with ABVP, he repeatedly cited Latur’s goings to Fadnavis through 50 communications and last year brought to notice non-recovery of Rs 350 crore from errant contractors, civic officials. Says he, “Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s office forwarded my communication seeking SIT to probe gross irregularities to Maharashtra CM who ignores repeatedly reiterated state government auditors’ reports.” Last year Pathak threatened self-immolation just like a ABVP woman student did in Orissa just recently. Says Pathak, “I returned the certificate issued to me in June 2025 bearing the signature of CM Fadnavis. I am not broken by the failure of the executive and legislature as the Aurangabad bench of Bombay High Court on August 1 admitted my PIL proving that one pillar of democracy is still alive and kicking.” Justices Manish Pitale and YG Khobragade of HC’s Aurangabad bench directed Pathak to deposit Rs 5 lakh by September 2, 2025, to register the PIL.