Internal Rift Erupts in Karnataka Congress Over Deputy CM’s RSS Anthem Rendition
Bengaluru – A fresh political controversy has erupted within the Karnataka Congress after Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar recited lines from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) anthem during a session of the state Legislative Assembly, sparking sharp criticism from within his own party and prompting calls for accountability.
The incident occurred on August 21 during a light-hearted exchange with Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka, who had alluded to Shivakumar’s past association with the RSS. The Deputy CM’s decision to sing the song—viewed by many Congress members as antithetical to the party’s core values—has exposed simmering tensions and ideological disagreements within the state’s ruling party.
Leaders Demand Action from High Command
Several senior Congress leaders have publicly expressed dismay, placing the responsibility for any disciplinary action squarely on the party high command and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi stated that lower-ranking officials could not make a decision on the matter. “At our level, we cannot make a decision or come to a conclusion,” he told reporters on Monday.
When asked if Shivakumar’s actions conflicted with the stance of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Jarkihoi suggested that Gandhi might be unaware of the incident. “Some issues do not reach him. There should be an attempt to make sure that he learns about it,” he said.
Jarkiholi’s Monday remarks struck a different tone from his comments a day earlier, when he appeared to defend the Deputy CM. “I too can sing (the RSS anthem). But will they make me CM? No,” he had said, arguing that reciting the song did not indicate a shift in allegiance. “It is not wrong, he knows it… We should always have counter-intelligence,” he added.
Calls for Apology and ideological Clarity
The criticism was more pointed from MLC B.K. Hariprasad, who argued that Shivakumar’s role as the President of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) made the act particularly egregious.
Hariprasad clarified that while it was acceptable for the Deputy CM, as a representative of all people, to recite the anthem, the same leeway did not extend to the party chief. “But as KPCC president, he should not say that. If he had said so as KPCC president, he should apologise,” he stated.
He strongly condemned the RSS, labelling it an organisation “that killed Mahatma Gandhi,” and expressed confusion over Shivakumar’s motives: “I don’t know to whom he wants to please and send a message to.”
Former minister K.N. Rajanna, who recently resigned over electoral roll issues, offered a more cynical view, suggesting Shivakumar operates by a different set of rules. “He can recite the RSS song, share the dais with (Union minister) Amit Shah… He can attend the Ambani wedding where even Rahul Gandhi decided not to go,” Rajanna said, adding that the party would “take the right decision at the right time.”
Minister Priyank Kharge Delivers a Stark Warning
Adding a powerful ideological dimension to the debate, IT and Biotechnology Minister Priyank Kharge took to social media platform X to issue a stark reminder about the RSS’s history.
Calling the organisation “toxic,” Kharge invoked the warnings of historical figures like Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. “The RSS, which did not accept the Constitution and burnt its draft, which does not respect the national flag… is not only an enemy of the Congress but also the greatest enemy of the unity of this country. Every patriot must keep this in mind,” he wrote in a post in the early hours of Sunday.
Defence from Supporters and a Personal Clarification
Amid the backlash, Shivakumar found support from Kunigal MLA H.D. Ranganath, who also sang the anthem and defended its lyrics. “It asks to bow to the land you are born in. So I did not find anything wrong… We are a secular party. From all people and parties, we have to accept the good things,” Ranganath said on Sunday. He was careful to distance himself from the BJP’s ideology, which he termed “divisive.”
Facing intense scrutiny, Deputy CM Shivakumar later moved to quell the speculation about his loyalties, firmly stating, “I was a born Congressman.” He defended his actions by adding, “We have to learn good qualities from everyone.”
The episode has fueled speculation about Shivakumar’s political ambitions and has brought to the surface ongoing discussions about the practice of “soft Hindutva” by some Congress leaders. The party high command’s response, or lack thereof, is now being closely watched as a test of its ideological discipline and internal unity.
