Archive · 23 Aug 2026
Kharge Accuses BJP, RSS of Influencing Education and Public Debate
Mallikarjun Kharge spoke at a gathering in Kalaburagi.
He said the BJP and RSS were influencing India’s education system.
He claimed that some university appointments were based on ideology.
Kharge also said the Mumbai–Ahmedabad bullet train would cost too much money.
He argued that the money could instead be used to build more railway lines.
He said he should be known as a Congress leader, not only as a Dalit leader.
Kharge defended the Congress position of singing the first two parts of Vande Mataram.
He accused the BJP and RSS of using the issue to divide people.
He also criticised labels used against government critics and discussed a venue purification controversy.
Mallikarjun Kharge alleged that the Education Department had become an “RSS adda” and that academic appointments were influenced by ideology.
Kharge questioned the economic viability of the Ahmedabad–Mumbai bullet train, saying its estimated ₹1 lakh crore cost could fund 5,000 km of railway lines.
He rejected being described only as a Dalit leader, calling himself a Congress leader and saying he opposed being defined by caste.
Kharge defended singing only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram and accused the BJP and RSS of using the controversy to polarise people.
He criticised the use of “Dimagi Naxal” against government critics and raised allegations about a venue purification controversy in Uttarakhand.
- Who
- Mallikarjun Kharge, president of the Indian National Congress, addressed the gathering and made the allegations.
- What
- Kharge criticised alleged BJP and RSS influence in education, the bullet train project, the Vande Mataram controversy, labels against critics, and a venue purification incident.
- When
- Saturday; the article does not provide a calendar date.
- Where
- Kalaburagi, Karnataka; he also referred to a separate incident in Uttarakhand.
- Why
- He was addressing a gathering held during the release of his felicitation book, “Dheematha Dhurina,” and used the speech to criticise government and political positions.
- Speaker
- Mallikarjun Kharge, president of the Indian National Congress
- Event
- Release of the felicitation book “Dheematha Dhurina”
- Education allegation
- Kharge alleged that professors, lecturers, and vice-chancellors were appointed based on ideological affiliations.
- Bullet train cost
- Kharge cited an estimated cost of around ₹1 lakh crore for the 500-km Ahmedabad–Mumbai route.
- Alternative proposal
- He said the same money could be used to build 5,000 km of railway lines.
- Vande Mataram position
- Kharge said the Congress Working Committee decided that the first two of the song’s six stanzas should be sung.
- Other controversies
- He criticised the use of “Dimagi Naxal” for critics and referred to a “shuddhikaran” controversy involving a venue in Uttarakhand.