PTI | | Posted by Pathi Venkata Thadhagath
Asserting that he’s a Hindu however against Hindutva, former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday mentioned he by no means opposed Ram Temple in Ayodhya however was towards utilizing it for political acquire.
He even claimed that he had constructed many Ram temples within the rural areas of Karnataka.
To a query, he mentioned he was by no means against the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. “Have been we ever against the Ram Temple? Our objection is just utilizing the temple for political acquire. It shouldn’t be used towards folks of different religion. The BJP is utilizing it for political acquire,” Siddaramaiah charged.
“I’m a Hindu. How can I be anti-Hindu? I’m against Hindutva and politics round Hindu religion. All of the faiths are equal in line with the Indian Structure,” Siddaramaiah advised reporters right here.
He was replying to a question on BJP’s cost that he was anti-Hindu. BJP nationwide common secretary C T Ravi had prior to now referred to as him ‘Siddaramullah Khan’, a reputation accepted by Siddaramaiah as a complement as a result of it endorsed his secular credential.
Siddaramaiah mentioned India has a multi-religious tradition the place everybody must be taken alongside and each must be seen as a human being. That’s what the Structure says and we must always abide by it, he mentioned.
The Chief of Opposition within the Karnataka meeting mentioned his get together is at all times towards those that promote communalism and do caste and faith based mostly politics.
When requested about Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s assertion questioning the RSS’ position within the freedom battle, Siddaramaiah mentioned nobody from the Hindu Mahasabha and the RSS took half in India’s independence motion.
Siddaramaiah mentioned the RSS got here into being in 1925 and Keshav Baliram Hedgewar was the RSS founder and later Madhav Sadashiv Golwalkar headed the organisation.
“Did anybody of them or the RSS workplace bearers participate within the freedom battle? The liberty battle was at its peak throughout that interval. Did they take part within the battle? No. Please inform me that from 1925 to 1947 who all from Hindu Mahasabha or the RSS participated within the freedom battle?” the Congress chief requested.