Published Feb 06, 2026 | 6:40 AM ⚊ Updated Feb 06, 2026 | 6:40 AM
Priyank Kharge
Synopsis: Karnataka IT & BT Minister Priyank Kharge accused the Centre of promoting hyper-nationalism, harming India’s global image and domestic welfare. He cited student bans abroad, rising unemployment, declining FDIs, citizenship relinquishments, and alleged hypocrisy within central leadership.
Speaking at the Dakshin Dialogues 2026, Karnataka IT & BT Minister Priyank Kharge accused the Centre of pushing the idea of “hyper-nationalism” among the masses.
He identified it as a major issue harming India domestically and internationally.
He listed external fallout: Australian states banning Indian students, H1B visa issues in US, and European countries issuing advisories against Indian students.
“Nationalism was never a problem, but hyper-nationalism blocks solutions by denying problems exist,” Kharge added.
Kharge also claimed that 2.5 lakh Indians are relinquishing citizenship annually – questioning claims of ‘Amrit Kaal’ and ‘Viksit Bharat’.
He pointed to domestic failures which Centre refuses to acknowledge – record-high unemployment since independence, price rise, declining FDIs, and hardship for the middle class, lower middle class, and BPL families.
Kharge accused central leadership of hypocrisy and gave examples of NSA Ajit Doval’s children holding foreign citizenship, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s family residing abroad.
