"Kaan pakad maafi mangni chahiye": Haryana Minister Anil Vij reacts to Kharge's remarks

Vij stated, "Congress Party President Mallikarjun Kharge ji, who after 144 years organised Maha Kumbh at Sangam Tirtha Sthan, insulted the Hindu religion by taking a dig at those who organised the Kumbh."

He emphasized that religion is a matter of personal faith and people are free to follow rituals in their own way. "Religion is a matter of faith, some pray towards the East and some pray towards the West. Our Constitution allows us to perform the rituals of our religion in our own way," Vij said. He further demanded that Kharge apologize to the Hindu community, saying, "Arjun Kharge ji ko saarey Hindu Samaaj se kaan pakad kar maafi maangni chahiye."

Vij also addressed Kharge's comments on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), stating, "RSS is the biggest nationalist organization of this country. Mr. Kharge, it is not right to comment while standing from a distance. If you want to understand RSS, then go and attend the 'Shakha' for a few days."

Earlier, Bharatiya Janata Party leader RP Singh responded to Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge's recent comments regarding Maha Kumbh, stating that Kharge and Congress have developed a habit of mocking Sanatan practices.

Speaking on the issue, Singh remarked, "See, constantly ridiculing Sanatan, taking a dig at Sanatan's rituals, it has become a habit of Congress and Kharge Sahab to take a dig at Sanatan's rituals."

Singh further challenged Kharge's remarks by asking him to show the same level of criticism towards other religions, particularly Islam. "I want him to take this kind of sarcasm once about any other religion and say something about Islam, like if going to Hajj earns any employment," Singh stated.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Praveen Khandelwal also criticised Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge over his comments regarding Mahakumbh, stating that his statement would hurt the faith of crores of Hindus in the country. (ANI)