Bengaluru: Karnataka minister Priyank Kharge on Wednesday clarified that their family would never blame the entire Muslim community for the tragic incident of their house being burnt down by the Razakars in the past.

Priyank responded sharply to Uttar Pradesh CM Adityanath after he raised the childhood tragedy of Priyank’s father and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, during a rally in poll-bound Maharashtra. Adityanath had mentioned how the Hyderabad Nizam’s Razakars set fire to Mallikarjun Kharge's house in 1948, resulting in the deaths of his mother and sister.

Priyank said, despite the tragedy, his father never played the victim card and never let hatred define him. “It was the Razakars who committed this act—not the entire Muslim community. Every community has bad apples and individuals who do wrong,” he wrote on X.

The Karnataka IT-BT and Rural Development and Panchayat Raj minister asserted that his father, at 82, was fighting to uphold the Constitution against "tyranny and hatred”, adding that Adityanath cannot "bulldoze" Mallikarjun Kharge's principles or ideology.

Priyank further emphasised that they (Dalits) have been subjected to various forms of insult and discrimination by different communities. He called on Adityanath to address these injustices as well. He stated that they lost precious family members and their home and added that it is not for others to speak about their family affair.

"Try winning the elections on PM Narendra Modi's achievements instead of trying to sow seeds of hatred in the society for political gains," Priyank remarked.

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London, Nov 22: A bomb disposal squad deployed as a “precaution” to the South Terminal of Gatwick Airport concluded an investigation into a "security incident" on Friday after making a “suspect package” safe.

The South Terminal of Gatwick Airport, the UK's second busiest airport after Heathrow, which was briefly shut owing to the incident reopened following the incident.

The Gatwick is around 45 km south of London.

Two people detained during the enquiries have since been allowed to continue their journey as the airport was opened.

“Police have concluded their investigation into a report of a suspect package at Gatwick Airport. Officers from the EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team made the package safe, and the airport has been handed back to its operator,” Sussex Police said in an updated statement.

“Two people detained while enquiries were ongoing have subsequently been allowed to continue their journeys. There will remain an increased police presence in the area to assist with passengers accessing the South Terminal for onward travel,” the statement added.

Earlier on Friday, the incident caused severe disruption at the busy airport’s South Terminal, while the North Terminal of Gatwick Airport remained unaffected.

“Police were called to the South Terminal at Gatwick Airport at 8.20 am on Friday (November 22) following the discovery of a suspected prohibited item in luggage,” a Sussex Police statement said.

“To ensure the safety of the public, staff and other airport users, a security cordon has been put in place whilst the matter is dealt with. As a precaution, an EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team is being deployed to the airport. This is causing significant disruption and some roads around the South Terminal have been closed. We’d advise the public to avoid the area where possible,” it said.

Footage on social media taken outside the airport showed crowds of frustrated travellers being moved away from the terminal building.

Gatwick said it was working hard to resolve the issue.

“A large part of the South Terminal has been evacuated as a precaution while we continue to investigate a security incident," the airport said in a social media post.

“Passengers will not be able to enter the South Terminal while this is ongoing. The safety and security of our passengers and staff remain our top priority. We are working hard to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.”

Train and bus services that serve the airport were also impacted while the police carried out their inquiries.

In an unrelated incident in south London on Friday morning, the US Embassy area in Nine Elms by the River Thames was the scene of a controlled explosion by Scotland Yard dealing with what they believe may have been a “hoax device”.

“We can confirm the 'loud bang' reported in the area a short time ago was a controlled explosion carried out by officers,” the Metropolitan Police said in a post on X.

“Initial indications are that the item was a hoax device. An investigation will now follow. Some cordons will remain in place for the time being but the majority of the police response will now be stood down,” it added.