Prahlad Joshi Responds to Kharges Remarks on RSS Marches

Hubli, October 23 (Daily Kiran) : Central Education Minister Prahlad Joshi addressed comments made by Karnataka’s Home Minister Priyank Kharge regarding the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) marches. Speaking to reporters in Hubli, Joshi urged Kharge to stop focusing on the organization and instead fulfill his responsibilities as a minister.

Joshi emphasized that RSS marches are not a new phenomenon, having been conducted since the time of Kharge’s father, Mallikarjun Kharge, who is also the president of the Congress party. He pointed out that similar marches took place when prominent leaders like Mallikarjun Kharge and Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara served as Home Ministers.

He advised Priyank Kharge to refrain from politicizing the issue and concentrate on more pressing matters. Joshi stated that questions related to the RSS should be addressed by the organization itself. He highlighted the challenges facing Karnataka, such as drought conditions, deteriorating law and order, and a lack of developmental initiatives, urging the Home Minister to focus on these issues rather than remaining idle.

In response to the controversy surrounding a sting operation involving former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and threats linked to a pen drive, Joshi expressed deep concern. He described the act of showing a pen drive to force Siddaramaiah to resign as shocking and detrimental to Karnataka’s dignity.

While acknowledging that political disagreements with Siddaramaiah are normal, Joshi asserted that pressuring a senior leader of his stature to resign using such tactics reflects a decline in political decorum at both the state and party levels.

Joshi called on the Congress leadership to clarify who is behind the pen drive controversy and the threats made against Siddaramaiah. He also urged the state government to take strict measures against the sale and use of ‘maanjee’ (kite-flying string), which has been linked to fatalities in Karnataka.

He suggested the establishment of a dedicated portal to monitor the sale and use of maanjee, emphasizing that the police should closely track its supply and usage, identify offenders, and pursue legal action against them.

Priyank Kharge had previously asserted that the Karnataka police should not serve as a mere tool for the RSS, insisting that the organization must adhere to established procedures to obtain permission for marches.