Reading Between the Lines: Priyank Kharge vs RSS

Priyank Kharge's letter written to RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat in which he listed seven points asking for accountability and transparency got nationwide media attention and became a most discussed topic. The minister chose to take RSS head on and wanted his questions to be answered. Was there no option for him to go in silence to accomplish his task? Since he is the Home Minister of the state, he had all the forces at his command to summon RSS functionary from Keshav Krupa and carry on with his task. Instead, he addressed his letter to the Sarsanghchalak and sought reply to his questions. Even this he could have done without media attention. Instead, he went to the media tom-toming his questions to the RSS. Why did he do so? Here is my perspective. There are two slurs that are inextricably linked with his political career. The first one is that his father's shadow looms large on his political ascendancy, and the second one concerns his qualifications, with which he has often been denigrated. He wanted to change this public perception and show that he is a man of his own mind and deservedly occupies the ministerial position. During his media interactions, whenever the opportunity presented itself, he spoke in chaste English. This tongue still holds its ground in India as a mark of intellectual superiority and sophistication. He wanted to show the world that he is no mere coat-tail rider who rides on the back of his powerful father. He wanted to demonstrate that he has all the wherewithal—young, confident, courageous and articulate—to tell the world: "Don't write me off as a protégé parachuted into political positions." In choosing the RSS issue, he eminently succeeded in his PR campaign to extricate himself from the slurs surrounding the reasons for his political ascendancy. More importantly, he sought to show that, irrespective of questions regarding his qualifications, he possesses the intellectual equipment required to be the Home Minister of the state.