‘Try to win elections on PM Modi’s achievements, instead of hatred’: Priyank Kharge

BENGALURU: Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge came down heavily on Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath over the latter’s remarks against Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge who accused the senior leader of “vote bank politics.”

Priyank Kharge said said that the UP CM should try to win elections on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s achievements instead of trying to “sow seeds of hatred” for political gains. “Try winning the elections on PM Narendra Modi’s ‘achievements’ instead of trying to sow seeds of hatred in the society for political gains”, he said on X.

Yes, @myogiadityanath ji, in 1948, the Razakars burned down Sri @kharge ji’s house, taking the lives of his mother and sister. Though he narrowly escaped, he survived and rose to become a 9 time MLA, twice Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MP, central minister, the Leader of the Lok…

— Priyank Kharge / ಪ್ರಿಯಾಂಕ್ ಖರ್ಗೆ (@PriyankKharge) November 13, 2024

While speaking at an election rally in Maharashtra’s Achalpur, Yogi Adityanath cited an incident where Kharge’s family was a victim of the violence carried out by the Razakars of Hyderabad’s Nizam, allegedly burning the family members of the Congress chief.

Yogi Adityanath’s response to Kharge came after the latter criticised his “batenge to katenge” remark ahead of the upcoming Maharashtra and Jharkhand Assembly elections. Earlier, Kharge had also taken a dig at Yogi Adityanath without naming him, saying that many of the leaders live in the guise of sadhus and have now become politicians and some have even become chief ministers.

Reacting to this, Congress leader Priyank Kharge argued that it was the Razakars who committed the act of violence and not the entire Muslim community. He (Kharge senior) never exploited it (the tragedy) for political gain and never played the victim card, letting hatred define him, Priyank Kharge added.

“In 1948, the Razakars (paramilitary wing of Hyderabad’s Nizam), burned down Shri Mallikarjun Kharge’s house where his mother and sister lost their lives. He narrowly escaped, he survived and rose to become a nine-time MLA… Despite the tragedy, he never exploited it for political gain, never played the victim card and never let hatred define him. It was the Razakars who committed this act, not the entire Muslim community. Every community has bad apples and individuals who do wrong”, Kharge said on X.

While hinting at the caste system practised in the society, the minister further lashed out at CM Adityanath saying that his ideology fails to see Kharge as an equal. Priyank Kharge argued that Yogi’s hate can’t “bulldoze” the principles or ideology of Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge.

“So, tell me CM saab, your ideology fails to see Kharge ji as an equal, discriminated between human beings, does that make all of you bad or those who are practising it? Who labelled him as an “untouchable” or a Dalit? The existence of a discriminatory ideology does not make everyone within a community wrong. Does it?… So, Yogi Ji, take your hate elsewhere. You cannot bulldoze his principles or his ideology”, the Congress leader said. (ANI)