{"id":5435,"date":"2025-08-25T23:38:25","date_gmt":"2025-08-25T18:08:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/?p=5435"},"modified":"2025-08-26T00:02:36","modified_gmt":"2025-08-25T18:32:36","slug":"internal-rift-in-karnataka-congress-after-dcm-dk-shivakumar-sings-rss-anthem","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/?p=5435","title":{"rendered":"Internal Rift in Karnataka Congress After DCM DK Shivakumar Sings RSS Anthem"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Internal Rift Erupts in Karnataka Congress Over Deputy CM\u2019s RSS Anthem Rendition<\/span><\/h2>\n

Bengaluru <\/b>\u2013 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.<\/p>\n

The incident occurred on August 21 during a light-hearted exchange with Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka, who had alluded to Shivakumar\u2019s past association with the RSS. The Deputy CM\u2019s decision to sing the song\u2014viewed by many Congress members as antithetical to the party\u2019s core values\u2014has exposed simmering tensions and ideological disagreements within the state\u2019s ruling party.<\/p>\n

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Leaders Demand Action from High Command<\/h4>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi stated that lower-ranking officials could not make a decision on the matter. \u201cAt our level, we cannot make a decision or come to a conclusion,\u201d he told reporters on Monday.<\/p>\n

When asked if Shivakumar\u2019s actions conflicted with the stance of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Jarkihoi suggested that Gandhi might be unaware of the incident. \u201cSome issues do not reach him. There should be an attempt to make sure that he learns about it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Jarkiholi\u2019s Monday remarks struck a different tone from his comments a day earlier, when he appeared to defend the Deputy CM. \u201cI too can sing (the RSS anthem). But will they make me CM? No,\u201d he had said, arguing that reciting the song did not indicate a shift in allegiance. \u201cIt is not wrong, he knows it\u2026 We should always have counter-intelligence,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

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Calls for Apology and ideological Clarity<\/h4>\n

The criticism was more pointed from MLC B.K. Hariprasad, who argued that Shivakumar\u2019s role as the President of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) made the act particularly egregious.<\/p>\n

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. \u201cBut as KPCC president, he should not say that. If he had said so as KPCC president, he should apologise,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n

He strongly condemned the RSS, labelling it an organisation \u201cthat killed Mahatma Gandhi,\u201d and expressed confusion over Shivakumar\u2019s motives: \u201cI don\u2019t know to whom he wants to please and send a message to.\u201d<\/p>\n

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. \u201cHe can recite the RSS song, share the dais with (Union minister) Amit Shah\u2026 He can attend the Ambani wedding where even Rahul Gandhi decided not to go,\u201d Rajanna said, adding that the party would \u201ctake the right decision at the right time.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Minister Priyank Kharge Delivers a Stark Warning<\/h4>\n

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\u2019s history.<\/p>\n

Calling the organisation \u201ctoxic,\u201d Kharge invoked the warnings of historical figures like Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. \u201cThe RSS, which did not accept the Constitution and burnt its draft, which does not respect the national flag\u2026 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,\u201d he wrote in a post in the early hours of Sunday.<\/p>\n

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Defence from Supporters and a Personal Clarification<\/h4>\n

Amid the backlash, Shivakumar found support from Kunigal MLA H.D. Ranganath, who also sang the anthem and defended its lyrics. \u201cIt asks to bow to the land you are born in. So I did not find anything wrong\u2026 We are a secular party. From all people and parties, we have to accept the good things,\u201d Ranganath said on Sunday. He was careful to distance himself from the BJP\u2019s ideology, which he termed \u201cdivisive.\u201d<\/p>\n

Facing intense scrutiny, Deputy CM Shivakumar later moved to quell the speculation about his loyalties, firmly stating, \u201cI was a born Congressman.\u201d He defended his actions by adding, \u201cWe have to learn good qualities from everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n

The episode has fueled speculation about Shivakumar\u2019s political ambitions and has brought to the surface ongoing discussions about the practice of \u201csoft Hindutva\u201d by some Congress leaders. The party high command\u2019s response, or lack thereof, is now being closely watched as a test of its ideological discipline and internal unity.<\/p>\n

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Key Quotes<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
    \n
  • \n

    On the Action:<\/strong>
    \n\u201cAt our level, we cannot make a decision or come to a conclusion.\u201d
    \n\u2014\u00a0Satish Jarkiholi<\/strong>, Public Works Minister<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    On Ideology:<\/strong>
    \n\u201cThe RSS… 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.\u201d
    \n\u2014\u00a0Priyank Kharge<\/strong>, IT & Biotech Minister<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  • \n

    On the Apology:<\/strong>
    \n\u201cIf he had said so as KPCC president, he should apologise.\u201d
    \n\u2014\u00a0B.K. Hariprasad<\/strong>, Congress MLC<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  • \n

    On Shivakumar’s Loyalty:<\/strong>
    \n\u201cHe can recite the RSS song, share the dais with Amit Shah… He can attend the Ambani wedding.\u201d
    \n\u2014\u00a0K.N. Rajanna<\/strong>, Former Minister<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    The Defense:<\/strong>
    \n\u201cIt asks to bow to the land you are born in. So I did not find anything wrong\u2026 We are a secular party.\u201d
    \n\u2014\u00a0H.D. Ranganath<\/strong>, Kunigal MLA<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  • \n

    The Clarification:<\/strong>
    \n\u201cI was a born Congressman. We have to learn good qualities from everyone.\u201d
    \n\u2014\u00a0D.K. Shivakumar<\/strong>, Deputy Chief Minister<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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    <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Internal Rift Erupts in Karnataka Congress Over Deputy CM\u2019s RSS Anthem Rendition Bengaluru \u2013 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 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":5387,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[66,65,96],"tags":[137,125,271,1263,82],"class_list":["post-5435","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-karnataka","category-national","category-politics","tag-congress","tag-dk-shivakumar","tag-rss","tag-rss-song","tag-siddaramaiah"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5435","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5435"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5435\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5436,"href":"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5435\/revisions\/5436"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/5387"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5435"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5435"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/belgaumnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5435"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}