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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New Delhi, Nov 14: India on Thursday said it will pursue an extradition request with Canada for Arsh Singh Gill alias Arsh Dalla, the de-facto chief of the Khalistan Tiger Force, following his arrest in that country.

Dalla was designated in India as a terrorist in 2023.

In July 2023, India had requested the Canadian government for his provisional arrest.

"In view of the recent arrest, our agencies will be following up on an extradition request," Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.

"Given Arsh Dalla's criminal record in India and his involvement in similar illegal activities in Canada, it is expected that he will be extradited or deported to face justice in India," he added.

Dalla was reportedly arrested by the Canadian Police late last month.

"We have seen media reports circulating since November 10 on the arrest in Canada of proclaimed offender Arsh Singh Gill alias Arsh Dalla, the de-facto chief of the Khalistan Tiger Force," Jaiswal said.

"Canadian print and visual media have widely reported on the arrest. We understand that the Ontario Court has listed the case for hearing," he added.

Jaiswal was replying to media queries regarding the arrest of Dalla.

"Arsh Dalla is a proclaimed offender in over 50 cases of murder, attempt to murder, extortion and terrorist acts, including terror financing. In May 2022, a Red Corner Notice was issued against him," Jaiswal said.

"He was designated in India as an individual terrorist in 2023. In July 2023, the Government of India had requested the Canadian government for his provisional arrest. This was declined," he added.

Jaiswal said India had provided additional information in the case to the Canadian authorities.

"A separate request was also sent to Canada under the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) to verify Arsh Dalla's suspected residential address, his financial transactions to India, moveable/immovable properties, details of mobile numbers etc - all of which were provided to Canadian authorities in January 2023," Jaiswal said.

"In December 2023, the Department of Justice of Canada sought additional information on the case. A reply to these queries was sent in March this year," he added.