Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge launched a sharp political attack on the BJP and RSS at a party gathering in Verna, South Goa, challenging their criticism of Congress over patriotism and questioning their historical role in India’s freedom struggle. His remarks came amid a fresh political dispute over Vande Mataram and nationalism.

Kharge argued that the BJP and RSS should not lecture Congress leaders on love for the country, pointing to the role of Congress figures such as Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru in the independence movement. He accused the ruling party of using nationalism to attack political opponents, while the BJP has repeatedly rejected Congress criticism of its ideological history.

At the meeting, Kharge directly questioned which BJP or RSS leaders had participated in the freedom struggle and pushed back against allegations that Congress lacked patriotism. His comments followed BJP criticism of Congress leaders over their conduct during a Vande Mataram programme held on Independence Day.

Kharge also invoked his long political career while responding to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and argued that Congress should not be given lessons on nationalism by its political rivals.

The exchange has added another layer to the ongoing confrontation between Congress and the BJP over national identity, the freedom movement and the political legacy of India’s founding leaders.

Kharge highlighted Congress’s historical association with the independence movement and referred to the sacrifices of leaders including Gandhi and Nehru.

His comments were framed as a response to BJP attacks on Congress, but several of Kharge’s statements about the BJP and RSS were political allegations rather than established findings. The dispute reflects a broader ideological battle in which both parties frequently invoke history to support competing claims about nationalism and governance.

Kharge also referred to the recent controversy in Haldwani, Uttarakhand, where a right-wing group conducted a “shuddhikaran” ritual at a venue after his rally. BJP leader JP Nadda subsequently said the party did not support such actions and assured Parliament that the matter would be examined.

Turning to Goa politics, Kharge accused the BJP of weakening Congress by taking away its elected legislators and urged voters to reject defectors. Congress won 11 seats in the 2022 Goa Assembly election, but eight of its MLAs joined the BJP in September that year, leaving the party with three legislators.

Yuri Alemao continues to serve as Leader of the Opposition in the 40-member Goa Assembly, according to the legislature’s official website. Kharge used the defections to argue that organisational unity would be crucial if Congress hopes to rebuild its strength in the state.

Kharge urged Congress workers to remain united and strengthen the party at the grassroots level, saying internal cohesion would be essential to defeating defectors and increasing the party’s representation.

His appeal comes as the Goa Congress faces its own organisational challenges. Reports said several booth-level agents and workers resigned ahead of his visit, while differences within the state unit have also surfaced over its leadership.

The Verna rally therefore served two purposes for Kharge: countering the BJP’s attacks over patriotism and attempting to energise a weakened Congress organisation in Goa. With nationalism, defections and party unity emerging as central themes, the political contest between Congress and the BJP in the state is likely to remain intense.