Karnataka Minister for IT-BT and Rural Development Priyank Kharge has said he has been receiving abusive and threatening phone calls after demanding a ban on Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) activities on government property.
On Wednesday, Kharge shared a video on X (formerly Twitter) showing a man using vulgar language against him, his family, and senior Congress leaders. Calling the clip a “sample” of the “filth” being spread through RSS shakhas, Kharge said the video reflects the kind of mindset the organization is creating among youth.
“Is this the culture the RSS claims to teach — abusing mothers and sisters, even those of Prime Minister Narendra Modi or RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat?” Kharge asked in his post. He accused BJP leaders such as B.Y. Vijayendra and R. Ashoka of indirectly encouraging such behaviour, saying their silence speaks volumes.
Kharge said he would not lodge police complaints against those making the calls, as he blamed their behaviour on “RSS brainwashing.” Instead, he said his fight is against the “dirty mentality” and “evil forces” that are poisoning young minds. “Children of BJP leaders go abroad for higher education, while the poor are being filled with hate and used as tools,” he added.
The minister said youth should be introduced to the teachings of Buddha, Basava, and Ambedkar to counter divisive ideologies. “This is not just about me — it is about protecting the next generation from a polluted system,” he said.
In a post on October 14, Kharge said the calls began after he demanded a ban on RSS activities in schools, colleges, and public spaces. Comparing the attacks on him to those once faced by Mahatma Gandhi and Babasaheb Ambedkar, he wrote, “This has just begun. We will fight for a society built on equality, reason, and compassion — to remove this ‘viRuSS.’”
Kharge has also written to the Home Ministry seeking action, while Karnataka’s Home Minister has assured him of full support. The incident has intensified the ongoing political tensions over the RSS’s role and influence in public institutions.
