‘Why Bhagwa Dhwaj over Tricolour?’: Priyank Kharge on Har Ghar Tiranga campaign

‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ should begin at RSS HQ, says Priyank Kharge

NEW DELHI: Karnataka home minister Priyank Kharge on Thursday targeted the BJP over its ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign, saying it should begin at the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) headquarters in Nagpur.In a post on X, Kharge referred to RSS’s history of hoisting the Indian National Flag at its headquarters, saying the RSS did not hoist the Tricolour at its Nagpur headquarters for more than five decades after Independence.“For over five decades after Independence, the RSS did not hoist the Indian National Flag at its Nagpur headquarters. The Tricolour was officially hoisted only in 2002,” Kharge said in a post on X.He questioned why the organisation had chosen the Bhagwa Dhwaj over the national flag.“Before lecturing every Indian on patriotism, perhaps the BJP should first explain why its ideological parent choose the Bhagwa Dhwaj over the Tricolour and why the national flag was absent from its own headquarters for so long,” Kharge said.

Kharge also questioned the presence of the Indian Tricolour in RSS route marches, asking how many such marches had seen uniformed swayamsevaks carrying the national flag.“How many RSS route marches have you seen where swayamsevaks, in full uniform, proudly march carrying the Indian Tricolour? None. And these chaps go around giving “Desh Bhakt” certificates to everyone,” Kharge added.Kharge’s remarks came as the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign is underway ahead of Independence Day.Launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2022 as part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, the campaign encourages citizens to hoist the National Flag at their homes and build a personal connection with the Tricolour.