by Muslim Mirror Staff

Congress MLA HD Thammaiah has sparked a controversy in Karnataka amidst the growing demand to ban the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Thammaiah made a statement in support of the organization, stating that he is a proud volunteer of the Sangh. This statement came in response to Karnataka minister Priyank Kharge’s renewed call for a ban on the RSS in the state.

Thammaiah said, “I was in BJP for 15 years. But even today I am still a proud volunteer of Sangh. Although I am a Congress MLA, I am proud to say that I am a disciplined volunteer of the Sangh. I’m also secular and want to take all the communities together.”

Thammaiah’s resignation from the saffron camp and subsequent joining of the Congress in February this year garnered significant attention, especially considering the timing, just months before the Karnataka Assembly elections. As a prominent Lingayat leader, his departure from the BJP was viewed as a setback for the party, particularly because he was considered a close associate of BJP heavyweight and national general secretary CT Ravi.

Congress MLA Priyank Kharge, representing Chittapur and son of party president Mallikarjun Kharge, has issued a warning regarding the ban of RSS. He stated that if the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Bajrang Dal disturb the peace in Karnataka, the state government will take measures to ban them. Kharge took to Twitter to express his accusation that the BJP is pressuring the government to ban the RSS.

The BJP has, time and again, tried to ban the RSS. It is not like playing under the rule of the blind for so long. Now just once try to disturb the peace in the society, cook political rice on the cloth, do unconstitutional activity and see. Then we will show the power of Baba Saheb Ambedkar’s Constitution,” Kharge tweeted.

However, Kharge’s statement received strong criticism from the saffron camp. Responding to Priyank Kharge’s remarks, Karnataka unit BJP president Nalin Kumar Kateel said, “If Congress tries to ban Bajrang Dal or the RSS, it will burn to ashes.”