Priyank Kharge slams BJP MLC

The Hindu

17 hours ago

Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge launched a scathing attack on BJP MLC N. Ravikumar for his alleged derogatory remarks against Karnataka Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh, saying such comments reflected the misogynistic ideology espoused in the Manusmriti.
'Ravikumar is not BJP man originally. He is a product of the RSS shakha. The RSS has never believed in the Indian Constitution — it believes in the Manusmriti, a text that has historically denigrated women,' Mr. Priyank told reporters at a press conference held at the Deputy Commissioner's office in Kalaburagi on July 4.
Referring to past incidents, Mr. Priyank recalled that Mr. Ravikumar had earlier made objectionable comments about the Kalaburagi Deputy Commissioner.
'The court asked him to apologise in that case, but he hasn't done it so far. That only shows he stands by his remarks. Now he made derogatory remarks against Chief Secretary' in front of Mahatma Gandhi's statue in Vidhana Soudha premises. His is dirty mind, dirty brain and dirty tongue. It is the result of training he got in RSS. This is what happens when people who should be receiving psychiatric care are sent to the Legislative Council,' he said.
When asked about Mr. Ravikumar's statement that he would hang himself if proven guilty of making derogatory remarks against the Chief Secretary, Mr. Priyank responded bluntly: 'Give him a rope.'
Mr. Priyank also took aim at the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), challenging it to list just ten contributions it has made toward nation-building, economic equity, or social unity.
'The RSS is constructing its office with ₹300–400 crore. Where is that money coming from? If we get a majority in Parliament, we will deploy the Income Tax Department and Enforcement Directorate to investigate. If we get that power from the people, we will act against any organization which is against our Constitution, tries to break the unity of our nation, instigates conflicts between castes and sow the poisonous seed of communalism to instigate communal clashes. It is in the interest of the country,' he said.
Responding to recent remarks by RSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale calling for the removal of the words 'secularism' and 'socialism' from the Preamble of the Indian Constitution, Mr. Priyank pointed to four landmark Supreme Court judgments, including the S.R. Bommai case, that uphold these principles.
'Let alone Indian Constitution, which the BJP people have hardly read, even BJP constitution has 'secular' and 'socialist' words in its Article 2. Let the RSS leaders tell their BJP followers to remove them from their party constitution,' he said.
On a broader historical note, the Minister accused the RSS of never participating in India's freedom movement.
'Did they raise slogans like 'Simon Go Back'? Did they participate in the Quit India Movement or the Dandi March? Which Round Table Conference had they participated in? While the Constituent Assembly was framing the Constitution, RSS activists staged 150 protests in Delhi's Ramlila Maidan demanding the Manusmriti be adopted instead. They even opposed Subhash Chandra Bose's call to join the Indian National Army and instead encouraged youth to join the British Army. And let's not forget Savarkar's multiple clemency pleas to the British and the pension he received from British government,' Mr. Priyank said.