📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Ajay Kumar Koli
Politics
Mallikarjun Kharge Rebukes Claim of RSS/BJP Man Fighting for Nation Amid Vande Mataram Row
✍️ The Times of India
🗓 18 Aug 2026, 04:08 PM
👁 22
Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge has sharply criticized a claim that an RSS or BJP figure has fought for the nation, amid the ongoing Vande Mataram controversy.
In the midst of the Vande Mataram row, Congress veteran Mallikarjun Kharge took to the podium to counter a claim that an RSS or BJP individual had fought for the nation. Kharge dismissed the assertion as baseless, emphasizing that the struggle for India’s freedom involved a broad coalition of leaders across the political spectrum.
The remark came after a social media post suggested that a prominent RSS or BJP figure had played a pivotal role in the country’s fight for independence. Kharge, speaking at a press conference, highlighted that the narrative was misleading and that the legacy of the freedom movement is shared by many.
He further urged political leaders to focus on national unity rather than engaging in partisan blame games. Kharge’s statement was met with mixed reactions, with some supporters applauding his call for unity, while critics argued that the comment was a diversion from the core issues surrounding the Vande Mataram debate.
The incident underscores the heightened sensitivities around cultural symbols and political rhetoric in India’s current climate. Kharge’s intervention is part of a broader effort by Congress to position itself as a unifying force amid rising polarization.
The remark came after a social media post suggested that a prominent RSS or BJP figure had played a pivotal role in the country’s fight for independence. Kharge, speaking at a press conference, highlighted that the narrative was misleading and that the legacy of the freedom movement is shared by many.
He further urged political leaders to focus on national unity rather than engaging in partisan blame games. Kharge’s statement was met with mixed reactions, with some supporters applauding his call for unity, while critics argued that the comment was a diversion from the core issues surrounding the Vande Mataram debate.
The incident underscores the heightened sensitivities around cultural symbols and political rhetoric in India’s current climate. Kharge’s intervention is part of a broader effort by Congress to position itself as a unifying force amid rising polarization.