Karnataka Home Minister Criticizes BJP's Allegiance to RSS

Karnataka's Home Minister Priyank Kharge has openly criticized the BJP for its close ties with the RSS, questioning the organization's historical contributions to India's freedom struggle. He raised significant concerns about the RSS's stance on patriotism and its constitutional adherence, highlighting the long delay in hoisting the national flag at its headquarters. Kharge's remarks suggest that the BJP reacts defensively whenever the RSS is scrutinized, indicating a deeper relationship between the two entities. This commentary sheds light on the ongoing political dynamics in Karnataka and the broader implications for national politics.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 25, 2026, 15:56 IST

Karnataka Home Minister's Remarks on BJP and RSS

On Thursday, Priyank Kharge, the Home Minister of Karnataka, mocked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), asserting that it operates solely at the behest of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Tensions have arisen between Kharge and the RSS regarding the adherence to constitutional and financial regulations. In a post on X, Kharge claimed that the BJP loses its composure whenever the RSS is questioned, retaliating defensively.

He raised critical questions about the RSS, asking why an organization that contributed nothing to the freedom struggle now lectures the nation on patriotism, and why it took 52 years for the tricolor to be hoisted at the RSS headquarters in Nagpur. Kharge noted that the BJP's responses to these inquiries are always defensive.

Kharge further stated that the BJP becomes anxious whenever the RSS is scrutinized, consistently adopting a defensive stance. He posed several questions that elicit similar reactions: why does an organization, which Kharge claims was distant from the freedom movement, now present itself as the foremost advocate of patriotism? Additionally, he questioned the lengthy delay in hoisting the national flag at the RSS headquarters.

He also inquired about which constitution the RSS truly respects—Dr. B.R. Ambedkar's constitution or the one they wish to draft themselves. Kharge accused the organization of failing to register itself or pay taxes. He remarked on X that the BJP reacts aggressively when the RSS is challenged, losing its temper whenever the organization is questioned.

Kharge emphasized that if one asks why it took 52 years to hoist the tricolor in Nagpur, or which constitution they adhere to, the BJP reacts with anger. He pointed out that the BJP does not register itself or pay taxes, and when asked to adhere to its own principles, the BJP becomes defensive. He concluded that the BJP has always been a tool for the RSS, not merely its ally, and their reactions only serve to confirm this.