THIRUVANANTHAPURAM — Karnataka Minister and senior Congress leader Priyank Kharge on Wednesday launched a blistering attack on the LDF government in Kerala, alleging a “tacit understanding” between Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Addressing the media at the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) headquarters, Mr. Kharge stated that the LDF has effectively become the “A-team” of the BJP in Kerala, surrendering the state’s progressive narrative to protect its own political interests. He remarked that the real “Kerala Story” is not the glamorous propaganda seen in movies, but the complete submission of the Chief Minister to the Delhi leadership.
Elaborating on growing concerns regarding minority rights, Mr. Kharge presented alarming statistics on atrocities against the Christian community under the BJP’s tenure. He noted that reported incidents of violence and intimidation against Christians have surged from 147 in 2014 to 834 in 2024, with over 4,300 cases recorded across India in the last decade. He condemned the Prime Minister’s “stony silence” on these attacks and the ongoing crisis in Manipur, asserting that the LDF government has allowed the RSS narrative a free run in Kerala, thereby tarnishing the state’s long-standing image of communal harmony.
A major portion of the briefing was dedicated to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill 2026, which Mr. Kharge described as a “weapon for political control” rather than a financial reform. He warned that the bill is a direct assault on the autonomy of community-run welfare networks, including orphanages, schools, and hospitals that have served the poorest citizens for centuries. According to Mr. Kharge, the amendment allows the Central Government to arbitrarily seize assets and dissolve institutions simply by casting a “shadow of doubt” on their intentions. He emphasized that in a state like Kerala, where faith-based institutions are the backbone of education and healthcare, this bill sends a dangerous message of intimidation.
Mr. Kharge further challenged the BJP’s rhetoric on transparency by highlighting the secrecy surrounding the PM CARES Fund and electoral bonds. He questioned why the government refuses to disclose the donor list for the PM CARES Fund, which has reportedly amassed over ₹13,000 crore, including contributions from the salaries of government employees. He also took a swipe at the RSS, calling it the “world’s largest NGO” that ironically remains unregistered and unaccountable to the law of the land. “The BJP wants transparency from every minority institution but refuses to be transparent about its own thousands of crores in funding,” he added.
Speaking specifically on electoral bonds, Kharge noted that the BJP received ₹7,721 crore via these instruments, including ₹2,243.95 crore in declared donations in 2023–24 and ₹6,074.02 crore in 2024–25. “Why is there no transparency in these transactions?” he asked.
Regarding the PM CARES Fund, Kharge described it as a “secret fund.” Audited statements reveal contributions of ₹3,115.53 crore in 2019–20, ₹7,678.70 crore in 2020–21, ₹1,936.88 crore in 2021–22, and ₹912.21 crore in 2022–23, totaling roughly ₹13,643.32 crore. Of this, about ₹13,066.03 crore came from domestic voluntary contributions and ₹577.29 crore from foreign donations. He added that 50 central government departments contributed ₹157.23 crore from staff salaries and 98 public sector units donated ₹2,422.87 crore from CSR funds. “Despite these figures, PM CARES has never released a complete donor-wise list,” he said, questioning the accountability of public money.
Kharge also raised concerns about the funding of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), noting Prime Minister Modi’s praise of the RSS as the world’s largest NGO from the Red Fort. “The RSS itself claims to have around 7,000 shakhas in Kerala. How are they funded? Who are their donors?” he asked, pointing out that the Sangh operates through a network of proxy organizations rather than a single registered entity.
Turning to local politics, the Karnataka Minister labeled BJP candidate Rajeev Chandrasekhar for Thiruvananthapuram a “paper tiger.” Drawing from his experience in Bangalore, Kharge claimed that Chandrasekhar’s contribution to the IT sector in his home city was “zero” and that he is being fielded in Kerala solely on the strength of his “money bags” rather than a record of public service. He also expressed grave concern over the Election Commission’s neutrality, alleging that the constitutional body has been “diluted” and operates under a dictatorial attitude to favor the ruling party at the Centre.
In his concluding remarks, Priyank Kharge urged the voters of Kerala to recognize the “hand-in-glove” relationship between the LDF and the BJP. He asserted that the Congress-led UDF remains the only credible force capable of defending the constitutional rights of minorities and ensuring that social welfare institutions are not held hostage by the political whims of Delhi.
