Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge has sparked a fresh political debate after comparing the role of Tipu Sultan with that of the RSS and the BJP. He said RSS and BJP had not contributed to India’s freedom struggle, whereas Tipu Sultan fought four wars against British rulers and asked whether RSS or BJP had participated in such struggles against British rule. His comments have triggered discussion on Tipu Sultan's legacy, patriotism and different organisations and historical figures in India’s independence movement.
The minister said that Tipu Sultan fought four wars against the British during his rule in the Kingdom of Mysore. Kharge asked why people who fought against British colonial rule should not be considered patriots. He was reportedly asking whether the RSS or BJP had fought the British or taken part in any freedom struggle and then adding, “Aren’t those who fought the British patriots?” The statement has attracted attention because Tipu Sultan is one of the most politically divisive historical figures in Karnataka; political parties interpret his legacy differently.
The minister’s comments will likely add fuel to the political debate between Congress and BJP in Karnataka over Tipu Sultan’s legacy. The Congress has often stressed Tipu Sultan’s resistance against British expansion, but the BJP has questioned whether he should be celebrated by pointing to controversies around his rule and historical accounts of how he treated certain communities.
These positions have repeatedly turned Tipu Sultan into a political issue (especially when it comes to discussions on historical commemorations, school textbooks and public celebrations in Karnataka).
Kharge’s comments also put the RSS contribution to the freedom movement into political focus. The minister was questioning the BJP’s claims on patriotism and nationalism: what role did it play in India’s struggle against British rule? When he referred to Tipu Sultan’s military resistance, Kharge wanted to draw attention to that difference between those who fought colonial forces and those whose contributions are being debated in politics today.
Minister Priyank Kharge compares Tipu Sultan to RSS & BJP, says Tipu Sultan fought 4 wars against the British & questions if RSS or BJP fought the British or participated in any of the freedom struggles, adds : "Aren't those who fought the British patriots?" https://t.co/RVvfp6EX5M
— Deepak Bopanna (@dpkBopanna) November 10, 2026ALSO READ
The comparison is more relevant in Karnataka, where Tipu Sultan’s legacy has been a politically sensitive issue for several years. His resistance against the British, military campaigns and administrative policies have been interpreted differently by historians and political organisations; some see him as an important ruler who resisted colonial expansion, while others criticise aspects of his administration and historical actions. Political statements on Tipu Sultan often provoke strong reactions from different sections of society.
The BJP and the Congress have often clashed over how Tipu Sultan should be remembered in Karnataka’s history. The Congress has defended him for resisting British rule, but BJP leaders have questioned attempts to make him only a freedom fighter. Kharge’s latest remarks are likely to give another dimension to this political confrontation as debate over historical figures and their contribution to India’s independence movement continues.
The minister’s statement has again put the question of how patriotism should be measured when talking about historical personalities or political organisations. Kharge asked whether those who fought against the British were patriots and put Tipu Sultan’s resistance at the centre of his argument while questioning the RSS and BJP’s historical claims. The controversy is sure to continue as political leaders from different parties respond to his comments and present their version of India’s freedom struggle.
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