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Shivakumar's Clarification on His Comments

On Tuesday, D.K. Shivakumar, the Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka, expressed his willingness to apologize if his remarks regarding the RSS anthem offended any Congress leaders or allies within the opposition's INDIA bloc. He clarified that his comments were intended as a joke aimed at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), but some individuals are misusing them for political gain. Shivakumar emphasized that he never intended to hurt anyone's feelings and expressed regret if his words caused any distress to his colleagues.

Political Reactions and Defense

In his statement, Shivakumar mentioned that he merely made a comment to poke fun at the BJP. He noted that some of his friends are exploiting this situation to create confusion among the public. He reiterated his desire not to offend anyone and stated, "If anyone feels hurt, I am sorry for that. I want to apologize to all of them." He firmly asserted that no one can question the Gandhi family, declaring himself a lifelong Congress member.

Calls for Apology from Congress Members

Congress member of the Legislative Council (MLC) B.K. Hariprasad demanded an apology from Shivakumar for singing the RSS prayer in the assembly, questioning whom he was trying to please. However, state minister Mahadevappa defended the Deputy Chief Minister, stating that singing the RSS prayer does not imply that Shivakumar is planning to join the BJP.

Concerns Over Historical Context

Hariprasad raised concerns about the implications of singing a song associated with an organization that has faced bans three times in independent India. He remarked, "If he sings the RSS prayer as Deputy Chief Minister, no one will object, as the government represents not just one party but the seven crore people of Karnataka, including the RSS and Jamaat-e-Islami. However, as the state Congress president, he should refrain from singing that prayer."

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