Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi’s statement in Bhopal that he saw no difference between the RSS and the banned outfit SIMI as both were “fanatical” and held “fundamentalist view” is unlikely to go uncontested.

Both may hold fanatical and fundamentalist views but even a casual acquaintance with their activities and modus operandi is suffice to say that their world views, scale of operation and level of involvement in terror attacks are not on the same plane.

SIMI remains a banned outfit since 2002 for its alleged involvement in terror attacks. When a special tribunal lifted the ban in 2008, the Supreme Court re-imposed it soon after. RSS too has been banned in the past for similar reasons but never for so long and there is little to suggest that it is either officially involved or endorsed any terror attacks. At best, such attacks have been traced to fringe elements or people who have had past association with the Hindu outfit.

Is it, therefore, right for Rahul Gandhi to equate both the organizations?