On Udayanidhi’s remark, Karnataka minister Priyank Kharge says any religion against human equality is ‘as good as a disease’

“Any religion that does not promote equality, any religion that does not ensure that you have the dignity of being a human being is not a religion according to me. Any religion that does not have equal rights and does not treat you as a human being is as good as a disease,” said Priyank Kharge, a Dalit and a follower of Buddhism.

Earlier in the day, the Congress said every party had the freedom to express its views with general secretary K C Venugopal fleshing out their ideology. While speaking at a party briefing at the AICC headquarters, Venugopal said: “Our view is clear. ‘Sarva Dharma Samabhava’ is the Congress’ ideology. Every political party has the freedom to tell their views….We are respecting everybody’s beliefs…”

#WATCH | Bengaluru, Karnataka: On Tamil Nadu Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin’s ‘Sanatana Dharma should be eradicated’ remark, Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge says, “Any religion that does not promote equality or does not ensure you have the dignity of being human is not religion,… pic.twitter.com/lQcpB5s6aY

— ANI (@ANI) September 4, 2023

Meanwhile, the BJP which has criticised Tamil Nadu Sports Minister Udhayanidhi’s remarks on Saturday, also questioned Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s silence over the issue and called Opposition bloc INDIA “completely anti-Hindu”.

The junior Kharge is a strong proponent of the ideals of Dr B R Ambedkar, the Dalit visionary and architect of the Constitution of India. He is also a strong critic of radical Hindutva.

Last year, when he was the head of the Congress communication wing, Priyank Kharge had questioned the then Karnataka BJP government’s move to remove portions of school textbooks that referred to the stand taken by Dr Ambedkar against Hindutva and the caste system.

“They have gone to the extent of taking out Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar from the country’s history. A conspiracy has been carried out to wipe out Dr Ambedkar’s credentials as the architect of the Constitution of India,” he had said then.

“A poem attributed to Dr Ambedkar has been removed. The names of Dr Ambedkar’s parents and the place of his origin are removed. The major social movements that Babasaheb was involved with – like the Mahar Satyagraha and the entry to the Kalaram Temple – have been omitted. Why is it?” he had asked.

“The stand taken by Babasaheb Ambedkar regarding Hindutva and the caste system has been removed. Why is it?” he asked.

Priyank, who does not shirk from speaking his mind, also indicated after becoming a minister in June this year that the Karnataka government would ban any organisation, including the RSS, promoting disharmony.