Ex-CBI Director Nageswara Rao Launches Sarvajana Sanatan Party, Criticizes ‘Fake Hindutva’ of BJP & Allies.

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Sarvajana Sanatan Party (SSP) Launched; Ex-CBI Director M. Nageswara Rao Takes Charge as National President, Targets BJP and Allies Over ‘Fake Hindutva’.

Upendra Bharati | HENB | Varanasi | Oct 8, 2026:: From the sacred land of Kashi, former CBI Director M. Nageswara Rao announced a new chapter in his public life by taking charge as the National President of the newly launched Sarvajana Sanatan Party (SSP).

Drawing on nearly four decades of experience in security, law and order, and administration, Rao said India’s reconstruction cannot be limited to administrative reforms. He argued that the country must pursue modern development while remaining firmly rooted in its civilizational heritage.

In a post on X, Rao explained the reason behind his entry into politics, writing: “After nearly four decades in public service, I have come to believe that governance or judicial reforms alone are not sufficient to arrest the rot. Bharat needs a deeper civilisational renewal. It is with this conviction that, on 3 October 2026, from Kashi, the civilisational epicentre of Bharat, I began a new chapter of public life. I have entered politics as National President of the Sarvjan Sanatan Party (SSP).”

Rao clarified that in the Sarvajana Sanatan Party’s vision, Sanatan is not merely a method of worship, but a life-view rooted in truth, dharma, duty, compassion, justice, self-control, nature, family, society, and public welfare.

At the centre of the SSP’s political vision is its interpretation of Sanatan as more than a religious or electoral identity. Rao described it as a way of life rooted in truth, dharma, duty, compassion, justice, self-control, harmony with nature, family values, social responsibility, and public welfare.

The party’s programme rests on four key pillars:

Education: Connecting Indian civilisation, history, and knowledge traditions with modern and globally competitive education.

Health: Providing quality and accessible healthcare by combining modern medicine with traditional Indian health systems.

Livelihood: Creating dignified opportunities for youth, farmers, artisans, labourers, small-business owners, and entrepreneurs.

Civilizational Reconnection: Strengthening India’s languages, arts, temples, pilgrimage sites, festivals, knowledge traditions, family institutions, and cultural heritage as sources of national strength.

The SSP has said its objective is not to return to the past but to build a modern India rooted in its civilizational heritage—one that is technologically and economically advanced without becoming disconnected from its cultural identity.

Rao also emphasised the preservation of temples and pilgrimage sites as living institutions of Indian civilisation, rather than merely places of worship. He called for greater transparency, respect, and meaningful social participation in their functioning.

The party has also stressed that it is not opposed to any caste or community and does not seek to create social divisions. Its stated objective, Rao said, is to work for all sections of society.

Describing Kashi as the starting point of this new political chapter, Rao said India must strike a balance between modernity and its civilizational roots.

The SSP has presented this broader vision under the formulation: “Modern India, with its Sanatan civilizational roots.”

Rao was accompanied at the launch by SSP National Vice President Mahant Tirthanand, Vice President Ritu Rathod, General Secretary Raja Saksham Singh Yogi, spokesperson Babita Sharma, Uttar Pradesh in-charge Rakesh Tiwari, and Secretary (Organisation) Narnarayan Singh.

Rao Targets BJP and Allies Over ‘Fake Hindutva’

Following the launch, Rao sharply criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Jana Sena, and what he described as sections of the broader Sangh ecosystem, accusing them of practising what he termed “fake” or “pseudo-Hindutva.”

In a hard-hitting interview with Vijaya Kranti Digital TV, Rao described certain political actors as “kuhana Hindutvavadulu”—a Telugu expression referring to fake or pretentious advocates of Hindutva.

Rao argued that some political forces invoke Sanatan and Hindutva themes while in opposition but fail to uphold those principles after coming to power. He accused them of merely articulating “Sriranga neetulu”—polished or rhetorical principles—without translating them into governance.

Rao, a 1986-batch Odisha-cadre IPS officer, briefly headed the CBI between October 2018 and February 2019. After nearly four decades in security, law enforcement, and administration, he has described his entry into active politics as an effort to rebuild India on civilizational foundations rather than through administrative reforms alone.

“Satya Sanatan, Nitya Nutan” is not merely a slogan but the foundation of the party’s vision, he has stated.

He was particularly critical of the political use of Hindutva by established organisations and parties.

“RSS and BJP talk about Sanatan only when they are in the opposition. Once they come to power, they forget it,” Rao said, according to the interview.

Referring to the Jana Sena, he also alleged that some political leaders merely project a superficial form of Hindutva. His criticism forms part of his broader opposition to what he calls “pseudo-Hindutva.”

Rao has previously argued in public forums and on social media that political forces sometimes use Hindu imagery, cultural symbols, and grievances primarily for electoral mobilisation rather than for what he considers a genuine civilizational renaissance or for addressing the broader challenges faced by Hindu society.

He has also described pseudo-Hindutva and pseudo-secularism as two sides of the same political coin, arguing that both ultimately subordinate what he considers authentic Sanatan concerns to the pursuit of political power.

SSP Seeks to Build an Alternative Political Platform

Under Rao’s leadership, the SSP seeks to position itself as an alternative political platform built around the concept of a “Modern India, with its Sanatan civilizational roots.”

Rao has stated that he himself will not contest elections. Instead, he says, his focus will remain on preserving and reviving India’s civilizational identity.

The SSP has announced ambitious organisational plans, including its intention to contest all 403 Assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh in the forthcoming elections. The party has chosen Kashi as the starting point for its organisational expansion, with Rao describing the city as a living symbol of India’s civilizational continuity.

Rao’s political entry has attracted attention because of his background as a senior police officer and former CBI chief rather than as a conventional career politician. Originally from Warangal district in Telangana, he has developed a reputation for outspoken views and public commentary well before formally entering politics.

His remarks are likely to intensify debates within India’s Hindu political discourse, particularly ahead of upcoming state elections, as the SSP seeks to challenge established parties’ claims over the language and politics of Hindutva and cultural nationalism.

Whether the SSP can translate its ideological critique into organisational strength and electoral support remains to be seen. For now, Rao’s entry has added a new dimension to the contest over the meaning and political ownership of Sanatan and Hindutva in contemporary India—between electoral rhetoric on one side and what he insists must be lived civilizational values on the other.
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