Karnataka: BJP Warns Congress About RSS Ban Row After Priyank Kharge's Statement

Former Chief Minister of Karnataka Basavaraj Bommai and president of Bharatiya Janata Party of Karnataka unit Nalin Kumar Kateel have responded to Congress leader Priyank Kharge's comment on imposing a ban on Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and Bajrang Dal.

Bommai alleged that the Congress was pursuing 'politics of vengeance', he said, "It appears that politics of vengeance is more on the agenda than the development of the state". He reportedly said, "Nobody can ban RSS. All such attempts in the past failed. Those who dared to ban it were sent home."

“I ask Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to spell out your intention clearly with regard to banning RSS or Bajrang Dal. Will you support your cabinet colleagues or disagree with them? You must tell the people of the state clearly,” added Bommai.

Bommai charged the Congress with 'misleading' those it was trying to appease and said it does not have power to do so. He also alleged that Congress ministers were giving such statements to please a section of its voters, while on the other, they were trying to threaten those who believed in this ideology.

Nalin Kateel reportedly said, "Priyank Kharge spoke about banning the RSS. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a RSS swayamsevak and is in a central position. We are all swayamsevaks of the RSS. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and the Narasimharao government also tried to impose a ban on the RSS but couldn't succeed."

The BJP Karnataka president also reportedly added to his warning to Congress and Kharge, "Try to ban Bajrang dal and RSS, Congress will burn to ashes. It is better for Priyank Kharge to know about the history of the country. Priyank Kharge should mind his tongue."

What did Priyank Kharge say?

The son of Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Priyank Kharge had tweeted about religious and political outfits disrupting peace in Karnataka and aimed at RSS and said that the congress government in the state would ban them.

He also told the media, "Any organisation, either religious, political or social, who are going to sow seeds of discontent & disharmony in Karnataka will not be tolerated. We will tackle them legally & constitutionally - be it Bajrang Dal, PFI or any other organisation. We will not hesitate to ban them if they are going to be a threat to law and order in Karnataka."

According to the reports, BJP senior leader Basavaraj Bommai RSS is an organisation which built the nation. It has put out in public its policies and principles and prepared youth for it for the past 75 years.

(With PTI inputs)