Mallikarjun Kharge slams BJP for appropriating Patel’s legacy, recalls he banned RSS

Congress president Kharge accuses BJP-RSS of conspiracy against national heroes, highlighting Sardar Patel's ideology against RSS' ideas.

Accusing the BJP-RSS of carrying out a “well-planned conspiracy” against national heroes, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday (April 8, 2025) asserted that Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's ideology was contrary to the RSS’ ideas and said it is laughable that today that organisation which “has no contribution” in the freedom struggle claims his legacy.

In his opening address at the Extended Congress Working Committee meeting at the Sardar Patel Memorial, Mr. Kharge also said that today, attention is being diverted from the basic issues of the country by indulging in communal division.

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“On the other hand, oligarchic monopoly is on the path of controlling the government by capturing the resources of the country,” he said, quoting Sardar Patel. Mr. Kharge said organisational strength was important, and mere numbers without the organisation was meaningless.

For the last several years, a well-planned conspiracy is being carried out regarding many national heroes, he alleged.

“An atmosphere is being created against the Congress party, which has a glorious history of serving and fighting for the country for the last 140 years. This work is being done by those people who have nothing to show as their achievements,” Mr. Kharge said. They have nothing to show as their contribution in the freedom struggle, he said, attacking the BJP-RSS.

“They conspired to show that the relationship between Sardar Patel and Pandit Nehru was such that the two heroes were against each other. While the truth is that they were two sides of the same coin. Many incidents and documents are witness to their cordial relationship,” he asserted.