Priyank Kharge alleges Himanta’s ‘Brahmin privilege’ is behind his attack on AICC chief

Bengaluru: Panchayat Raj minister Priyank Kharge on Wednesday accused Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma of targeting AICC president and his father Mallikarjun Kharge due to “caste privilege,” alleging that Sarma’s remarks reflected a Brahminical mindset shaped by RSS ideology.

Defending his father’s controversial statement likening the RSS-BJP to “poisonous snakes,” Priyank Kharge said, “Himanta Biswa Sarma has become desperate. Modi or BJP have no answers to the questions raised by Kharge. Himanta has caste privilege and it has entered his head.

"He was better off when he was in Congress. But now, with RSS’ training, this caste privilege is in his head. What is Himanta Biswa Sarma’s community? Isn’t he a Brahmin? That is why he can say anything about Dalits or dalit leaders. RSS also teaches the same, the ‘Chaturvarna’ ideology.”

“He(Sarma) belongs to an enlightened community and thinks he can speak anything about other communities. Will Modi justify this kind of remarks by his party’s chief minister against the LOP in Rajya Sabha?” he asked.

Responding to questions on whether the senior Kharge’s remarks were provocative, he said, “What can you do to a poisonous snake? If the snake catcher is not available, what do the villagers do?”

On BJP’s protests and complaint to the Election Commission, Priyank said, “Let BJP protest, they have to show their loyalty to their master. What wrong has Mr Kharge spoken? Now, should we let a poisonous ideology thrive in our society? RSS ideology is detrimental to our country’s progress as it has no place for the Constitution, minorities, dalits, backward classes, women, or Adivasis. They believe in Manusmriti.”

Taking a dig at the RSS over a complaint filed in Assam, Priyank said, “How can RSS file a complaint? They don’t have a letterhead as they claim they are not registered. Let them complain individually. They have filed cases against me and Dinesh Gundu Rao. They claim their organisation is not registered and at the same time allege it has been humiliated. Is RSS in existence or not? You (RSS) have no registered office, but have a chief. There is income and expenditure but you don’t pay taxes. Is tax evasion patriotism now?.”