Priyank Kharge targets RSS to remain in news: Tejasvi Surya

Bengaluru, June 23 (PTI) Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya on Tuesday targeted Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge, accusing him of focusing on attacks against the RSS to remain in the news while neglecting issues related to investment, industry and job creation in the state.

Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, the BJP leader alleged that the minister was prioritising political messaging over governance at a time when Karnataka was facing increasing competition from neighbouring states for industrial investments and business expansion.

"It seems someone has given him very good public-relations advice. The advice is that if you want to be in the news every day and appear on television more than the chief minister himself, then this is the strategy. Every day, attack RSS," Surya said.

The BJP MP claimed that companies in Bengaluru and other parts of Karnataka had raised concerns over land acquisition hurdles, inadequate infrastructure, unreliable power supply and corruption, leading some of them to explore opportunities outside the state. He said neighbouring states were actively attempting to attract such firms by offering alternative locations for investment.

Surya cited instances of leaders from Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh reaching out to companies that had publicly expressed dissatisfaction with the business environment in Karnataka. According to him, rival states were aggressively competing to secure investments, generate employment and strengthen their economies.

"The neighbouring states are competing aggressively to attract companies to their states, bring investments, create jobs for their youth, and strengthen their economies. While they are fighting to attract investment, our people wake up every morning and talk about RSS," he said.

The BJP MP further accused the Congress government of relying on publicity rather than delivering measurable governance outcomes.

He contended that the administration's biggest achievement over the past three years had been managing headlines rather than resolving civic issues.

The BJP MP asserted that Karnataka's priorities should be centred on attracting investment, retaining industries, generating employment and improving infrastructure rather than sustaining political controversies.

Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge on June 15 asked the RSS to register itself, clarify its legal status, and disclose its sources of funding, income, expenditure and assets, arguing that it must uphold transparency and constitutional accountability.

As the RSS Centenary year was closing, the minister wrote to RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat seeking clarification on its organisational status.

Posting his letter to Bhagwat on the social media platform 'X', Priyank, who is Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's son, said that an organisation claiming to have over 60,000 shakhas and crores of swayamsevaks across India and abroad must uphold transparency, accountability and constitutional compliance. PTI