Add thelocalreport.in As A Trusted Source
Bengaluru, Oct 13 (IANS) Karnataka Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, IT and BT Minister Priyank Kharge on Monday defended his call to ban Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) from public activities, clarifying that his father and AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge had attended an RSS event in 2002 only to warn them against creating trouble.
His comments come after the BJP circulated Mallikarjun Kharge’s photograph at an RSS meeting in Bengaluru, accusing him of hypocrisy in the wake of demands for a ban on his son’s RSS activities.
Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru on Monday, Priyank Kharge dismissed the BJP’s claims as “misleading propaganda”.
He said that in 2002, when Mallikarjun Kharge was the Home Minister of Karnataka, he had visited an RSS event in Shivajinagar, a communally sensitive area, only after holding a peace meeting.
“At that time, the RSS was organizing a conference in a sensitive area. As home minister, my father went there to ensure peace and warned them that if they indulged in communal violence, they would be jailed,” Priyank said.
He said, “Police officials, including the then Bengaluru Police Commissioner SP Sangliana, are also present in the photo. I challenge the BJP to produce any document to prove that Mallikarjun Kharge attended the event as an invitee. He was there only to caution them.”
Reiterating his stance, Priyank said, “He was there only to ensure that they do not cause mischief.”
Continuing his criticism, Priyank Kharge accused the BJP of being a “puppet of the RSS”.
He said, “Without RSS, there is no BJP. Without RSS BJP is zero, and without religion RSS is zero.” He said his opposition was ideological, not religious.
He said, “I am not against Hindus or Hinduism. I am against the RSS because its ideology denies equality and has no respect for the Constitution. Without the Constitution, we would not exist.”
Citing incidents of violence in Mangaluru and Malnad region, Priyank alleged that the victims of the RSS-inspired clashes were mostly poor and backward class youth and not children of BJP leaders.
“Brainwashing in schools and public places must stop,” he stressed.
Questioning the privileges enjoyed by the RSS, he said, “If other organizations take out marches with sticks, will they be allowed? Why should the RSS be treated differently? Why this special privilege?”
He also raised questions on the funding and accountability of the organization.
“If RSS claims to be an NGO, let them show their registration certificate. How did they acquire assets worth Rs 300-400 crore? Where does this money come from? We need transparency and reforms,” he said.
Priyank concluded that social and economic equality cannot be achieved without curbing the influence of divisive organizations.
He said, “If we want true equality then organizations like RSS should be kept out of the society.”
–IANS
mka/skp