Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge took to X platform and issued a sharp response on Wednesday to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s comments about his father, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge.

Adityanath's criticism

Adityanath, during a rally in Maharashtra, criticised Mallikarjun Kharge's political stance and referenced his family’s tragic past. He claimed that Kharge’s village, Varawatti, was destroyed by the Razakars, a paramilitary group loyal to the Nizam of Hyderabad. Adityanath stated, "The Nizam, fearing a loss of power after independence, unleashed violence, and Kharge ji’s village suffered—Razakars burned it down, his family was burned to death by Nizam's force." His reference to the Razakars linked to the historical violence in the region, where atrocities were committed by the armed wing of the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM), which sought to preserve the Nizam’s rule.

Priyank Kharge’s response

Priyank Kharge emphasised that while the Razakars were responsible for such atrocities, they did not represent the entire Muslim community. "Every community has bad apples and individuals who do wrong," he said, calling for a more nuanced approach to history. He also defended his father, highlighting that Mallikarjun Kharge had never used his painful past for political gain, instead focusing on upholding the Constitution and fighting against “tyranny and hatred.”

Priyank criticised Adityanath for relying on divisive rhetoric instead of addressing real issues. He pointed out that such tactics reflected an ideology that "fails to see Kharge Ji as equal" and warned that attempts to exploit Mallikarjun Kharge’s caste background were harmful. He reiterated that discrimination by a few should not define an entire group.

Priyank Kharge challenged Adityanath to focus on positive politics, urging, "Try winning elections on PM Modi ji's 'achievement' instead of trying to sow seeds of hatred in society for political gains." He advised the Uttar Pradesh CM to avoid using divisive tactics to secure votes.

Fadnavis’ reference to the Razakars

Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis, also recently brought up the Razakars, accusing them of looting land and destroying families.

The Razakars and their history

The term 'Razakar,' meaning 'volunteer' or 'helper' in Persian and Urdu, is now associated with violence and anti-national activities. They were infamous for their role in the unrest in Marathwada and collaborated with the Pakistani Army during the 1971 War of Independence.

Mallikarjun Kharge’s traumatic past

Born in 1942 in Varawatti, Bidar district, Mallikarjun Kharge was a victim of Razakar violence at the age of six. The violence occurred during the Nizam’s resistance to India’s integration after independence, culminating in ‘Operation Polo’ in 1948, which ended the Nizam's rule.