MUMBAI: Karnataka RDPR Minister Priyank Kharge on Wednesday took a jibe at the Centre and asked whether renaming the country or important places could change the fortune and economic condition of India.
“It is ‘Bharat’ in Hindi and ‘India’ in English, that is all it is. They (Centre) came to power saying that they would be game changers, but they have become name changers. Nothing is going to change by changing names. Is the fortune of India going to change, is the economic situation of India going to change?” Priyank Kharge asked.
The minister’s remarks came in the wake of the development where he has been booked by Uttar Pradesh police in Rampur over remarks made on ‘Sanatana Dharma’.
#WATCH | On the India/Bharat debate, Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge says "It is 'Bharat' in Hindi and 'India' in English, that is all it is. They (Centre) came to power saying that they would be game changers, but they have become name changers. Nothing is going to change by… pic.twitter.com/kqN47pbIml
— ANI (@ANI) September 6, 2023
An FIR was registered under Section 153A, 295A Indian Penal Code (IPC) against Kharge and Tamil Nadu minister Udhayanidhi Stalin over their remarks on ‘Sanatana Dharma’ after a complaint from advocates in Rampur, which alleged the two leaders had hurt religious sentiments.
Responding to reports of the FIR, said, “I don’t care, they can do what they want, my statement is very clear. It is not against any particular religion”, Kharge said.
“I had stated that any religion that does not preach equality or that does not ensure the dignity of a human being is not a religion according to me. The Constitution is my religion. If Uttar Pradesh has a problem, I do not see it to be mine. We will do whatever needs to be done”, Priyank Kharge said.
Hitting out at the Centre over the India-Bharat debate, he said, “It is very frivolous of the government to get into this. We have bigger problems”, he said. (ANI)