Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge speaking at the Muslim Youth League state rally in Kochi on Sunday. Image: X/@PriyankKharge
Bengaluru: Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge challenged the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to register and disclose its accounts on November 10, responding directly to BJP MP Tejasvi Surya’s demand for evidence to back Kharge’s remarks about the killings of journalist Gauri Lankesh and scholar M.M. Kalburgi.
In his reply, Kharge cited SIT and CBI investigations into the killings of Lankesh, Kalburgi, Narendra Dabholkar and Govind Pansare. He alleged that the investigations had traced people accused in those cases to networks linked to the RSS.
Kharge said the RSS had no formal membership roll or public register, making it difficult to establish who represented the organisation. He called on it to register, identify its office-bearers and disclose its accounts. He offered to pay the registration fee.
Earlier that day, Surya, the Bengaluru South MP, asked Kharge to name the individuals he was referring to who had been charged in the Lankesh and Kalburgi cases. He demanded that the minister produce evidence for his allegations within three days or resign.
Surya pointed to delays in both trials and said the Karnataka Home Department should account for its role in the prosecutions. He argued that Kharge’s comments about the outcome of the cases raised concerns about the fairness and independence of the trials.
Surya’s post referred to Kharge’s speech at the Muslim Youth League rally in Kochi. Surya said Kharge had spoken about wrapping up the cases within six months and putting those involved in jail.
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