New Delhi: In a sharp retort to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's remarks about his father, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge stated that the veteran leader has never used personal tragedy for "political gain" nor played the "victim card", media reports said.

Priyank Kharge's response came after the BJP leader's comments targeting his father during campaigning for the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly polls on November 20, reported NDTV.

In response to Mallikarjun Kharge's statement about "leaders in the guise of sadhus," Adityanath referenced a childhood tragedy in which Kharge's mother was killed in an arson attack by the Razakars, a paramilitary force that supported the Nizam in the former princely state of Hyderabad.

Adityanath claimed Kharge had "buried his feelings" in favour of the Congress’s "votebank politics."

"These days Khargeji is getting angry with me... Khargeji, don't get angry at me. I respect your age. If you want to get angry... get angry at the Hyderabad Nizam. The Nizam's 'Razakars' burnt your village, brutally killed Hindus, and burnt your respected mother, sister, and family members. Present this truth before the country - whenever they will be divided, they will be divided in the same brutal manner," the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister had said.

"His village was under the Nizam of Hyderabad... when India was under the British. There was a fire... this was when Hindus were being selectively killed. And, in this fire, his home was also burned down, in which his mother and family were killed. But Khargeji does not say this... because he knows if he says it, then Muslim votes will shift. He forgot the sacrifice of his family for the sake of votes," Adityanath said.

In response, Priyank Kharge, son of Mallikarjun Kharge, countered that his father narrowly escaped that tragic incident and later built a political career as a nine-time MLA, an MP, Union Minister, Leader of the Opposition, and now Congress president.

"Despite the tragedy, he never exploited it for political gain, never played the victim card, and never let hatred define him," Priyank Kharge wrote on X.

Priyank Kharge said that the atrocities against his family were committed by Razakars, a paramilitary group, and not the Muslim community as a whole.

"Every community has bad apples and individuals who do wrong," he said.

He further highlighted that his 82-year-old father is dedicated to upholding the values of Buddha, Basavanna, and Ambedkar, working to protect the Constitution.

"So, Yogi Ji, take your hate elsewhere. You cannot bulldoze his principles or his ideology. Try winning the elections on PM @narendramodi ji's 'achievements' instead of trying to sow seeds of hatred in society for political gains," Priyank Kharge added.

Earlier, Mallikarjun Kharge had subtly criticized Adityanath’s divisive rhetoric, particularly the "batenge to katenge" remark.

Kharge remarked, "Many leaders live in the guise of sadhus and become politicians... some even become chief ministers. They wear gerua (saffron) clothes and have no hair on their heads...," alluding to Adityanath.

"On the one hand, you wear gerua clothes... on the other, you spread hatred, trying to divide the people