Bengaluru: “The Gandhi household is God, and I’m their devotee,” Karnataka Deputy CM and state Congress President D.Okay. Shivakumar mentioned Tuesday as he apologised for singing the anthem of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) contained in the legislative meeting.

Shivakumar defined that he was solely attempting to drag the leg of the Opposition and didn’t intend to harm the sentiments of anybody, going as far as to name himself a “devotee” of the Congress, whereas hitting again in opposition to some get together colleagues, who questioned his loyalty.

His apology comes days after he broke out singing ‘Namaste Sada Vatsale’ within the state legislature on the tail-end of the monsoon session, final week on Thursday. A row has since damaged out within the Karnataka Congress, together with his get together colleagues taking positions on two totally different sides of the fence—some defending him and others demanding his apology.

Kunigal MLA H.D. Ranganath—a Congress chief and shut aide of Shivakumar—identified for backing the Deputy CM in a dispute with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s supporters, remained steadfast in defending his colleague, stating that the RSS anthem was each “melodious & patriotic”.

Senior leaders, resembling B.Okay.Hariprasad, Satish Jarkiholi, and Okay.N. Rajanna, the ousted former minister of the Congress within the Siddaramaiah cupboard, attacked Shivakumar for singing the anthem of an outfit that the get together has opposed for lengthy and banned a minimum of 3 times since Independence.

Shivakumar earlier tried to justify his singing of the anthem, saying it was a part of his analysis on India’s different political outfits. He mentioned that although he entered the political subject in 1980, he accomplished his commencement solely in 2007, on the age of 47.

Earlier than becoming a member of politics, he learn and learnt concerning the NSUI, or the Nationwide College students Union of India (NSUI), the youth wing of the Congress. He additionally researched the RSS-BJP-Janata Dal, the contributions of the Gandhis, in addition to the Indian Communist events.

“As I did my analysis on the RSS and numerous political events, I discovered that below Gandhi, India accomplished 100 years, so we should always do 100 Congress Bhavans earlier than treating them as temples. Who has taken this daring resolution? Why have I taken this resolution? To find out whether or not my get together cadres are conscious of the importance of a Congress-made temple in each meeting section. That can be historical past,” he mentioned.

The Deputy CM, nevertheless, categorically denied that the Congress excessive command requested him to apologise, reiterating that every one the Congress cadre in jail for now—together with himself—have been effectively conscious of their dedication and contributions to the get together.

“If anybody needs to find out about my historical past, my dedication and beliefs or needs to do politics inside this, it’s left to them. I don’t need to remark,” he mentioned. Nevertheless, Shivakumar added that he wish to apologise if he harm anybody together with his feedback. “If anybody was harm, I really feel sorry for them…I plan to apologise to them.”

Responding to the feedback on his singing, Shivakumar mentioned that God gave people numerous alternatives and mouths to speak.

The BJP, in the meantime, criticised Shivakumar’s resolution to apologise.

“If saying ‘Namaste Sadaa Vatsale Maatrubhoome‘—a humble salutation to Mom India—requires an apology, then who precisely does the @INCIndia get together count on Indians to hail? Mom Italy? Or the Madam who got here from Italy…” R. Ashoka, the Karnataka Chief of Opposition, mentioned in an X publish.

R. Ashoka mentioned that Shivakumar ought to have resigned, as a substitute of apologising for singing a patriotic track. “If D.Okay. Shivakumar had even an oz. of self-respect or braveness, he would by no means have apologised. If the strain was insufferable, he ought to have resigned from Congress with out hesitation.”

“On one hand, Congress defends those that shout, ‘Pakistan Zindabad’, within the Vidhan Soudha. On the opposite, they vilify those that present reverence to Bharat Mata. What else can we name this if not a Deshdrohi mindset? And who precisely commanded Deputy CM @DKShivakumar to apologise?” the LoP requested.

(Edited by Madhurita Goswami)

---

Additionally Learn: Shivakumar’s ‘Structure change’ comment turns the tables as BJP assaults Congress in Parliament

---