Hariprasad’s remarks on RSS, BJP trigger political row

 Bengaluru: A fresh political controversy has erupted in Karnataka after KPCC president B.K. Hariprasad made sharp remarks targeting the RSS and BJP during a speech to party workers in Bengaluru.

Hariprasad reportedly urged Congress workers to politically oppose the BJP and RSS in Bengaluru, while referring to the ongoing debate over the singing of Vande Mataram. He said Congress workers were familiar with the national song and made a sarcastic reference to the traditional khaki uniform and lathi associated with RSS shakhas. His comments drew a strong response from BJP leaders, who accused the Congress leader of using provocative language against the RSS and its supporters.

Hariprasad also launched another attack on Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Referring to the ongoing political debate over the Election Commission and the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, he urged party workers to remain vigilant about voter lists. He alleged that eligible voters could be excluded if the electoral-roll process was not closely monitored and criticised Gyanesh Kumar in strongly worded terms. Hariprasad has previously raised objections to the functioning of the Election Commission and called for answers to concerns raised by the Congress over electoral-roll revision.

Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy hit back at Hariprasad’s comments. He said nobody could force people to leave Bengaluru and criticised what he described as the Congress leader’s aggressive political rhetoric. Narayanaswamy also defended the RSS, saying its members wearing uniforms and carrying lathis did not mean they had committed violence. He referred to an earlier statement by Home Minister Priyank Kharge regarding the absence of criminal cases against the RSS, while the registration status of the organisation has also featured in the political debate. The exchange comes amid a wider political confrontation between the Congress and BJP over Vande Mataram, the RSS and the Election Commission. BJP and JD(S) legislators recently sang the full version of Vande Mataram in the legislature after the official rendition ended after two stanzas, adding to the ongoing political dispute.