Karnataka MLC A.H. Vishwanath has publicly challenged the Congress party, directly asking what specific harm the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has inflicted upon the state.
His comments come in response to the state government’s recent restrictions on RSS activities in public spaces, including schools and government offices. Vishwanath dismissed the Congress leaders’ criticisms of both the RSS and historical figure Vinayak Damodar Savarkar as irrational. He reiterated his challenge, asking, “What actual harm has the RSS caused to Karnataka or even to the entire nation?”
Vishwanath specifically targeted Congress leader Hariprasad, suggesting that his continuous criticism of Savarkar stems from a lack of understanding of Savarkar’s significant period of incarceration—a decade spent in Andaman jail.
He also took aim at Priyank Kharge, the Minister for IT and BT, who had called for a ban on RSS activities on public properties. Vishwanath labeled Kharge’s actions as “raising irrelevant issues” that fall outside the purview of his ministerial responsibilities.
Vishwanath expressed disappointment, stating, “Priyank Kharge was elected by the people with the expectation that he would follow in his father Mallikarjun Kharge’s footsteps. Instead, he’s chasing the ambition of becoming a national leader by focusing on matters unrelated to his duties.” He concluded by lamenting that many political leaders are prioritizing vocal controversies over genuine development concerns.