Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar sparked controversy by singing the RSS anthem in the Assembly amid a debate on the Chinnaswamy Stadium stampede. Facing BJP’s attack, he apologised to Congress and the INDIA bloc, reaffirming his loyalty to the party while ruling out ties with BJP or RSS.
Photo: IANS
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, who triggered a massive row by singing the RSS anthem in the Assembly, said on Tuesday that he would apologise if his act offended the Congress or the INDIA alliance. “If anyone is hurt, I apologise… I was born a Congressman and will die a Congressman,” he told reporters in Bengaluru.
Shivakumar broke into the RSS anthem during a heated discussion on the Chinnaswamy Stadium stampede that claimed 11 lives in June.
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The move came after BJP leader R Ashoka demanded his resignation along with that of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Home Minister G Parameshwara, alleging the government’s role in triggering “mass frenzy” during RCB’s victory celebrations, which led to the tragedy.
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Earlier on August 22, amid the row over reciting the RSS anthem in the Karnataka Assembly, Shivakumar had denied the speculations of joining hands with the BJP and RSS.
“I am a genuine Congressman. A Congressman by birth. I will remain a Congressman as long as I live. My life, my blood is all for Congress. I am now leading the party. I will stand as its pillar,” Dy CM DK Shivakumar had said firmly while responding to media queries at Vidhana Soudha.
When asked if there is a discussion about joining hands with the BJP and RSS, Shivakumar had replied, “I have no intention of joining hands with them in any way, directly or indirectly. I am a genuine Congressman. I am doing research on the Janata Dal and the BJP. I have also learned about RSS.”
On reciting the RSS anthem in the Assembly, Shivakumar had said that one should notice “good qualities” in others.
“Politically, we may have differences. As a political person, don’t I need to know who are my friends and who are my enemies among my political opponents? That is why I have learned the history of the RSS. In some cases, there are some good qualities in some organisations. Shouldn’t we also notice them? It is our nature to speak directly and boldly. We should notice the good qualities in others, and that is what we have done,” he had told the reporters.
“Each of you (media) also has a quality. There is a quality that slips when you try to catch it. There is also a good quality. Shouldn’t we notice them?” he had added.
When asked about the BJP’s Dharmasthala Yatra, he had said, “BJP is a customer of this. What they are doing is politics. The investigation team, led by senior officer Mohanty, is doing its job neatly.”
Amidst a debate over the M Chinnaswamy Stadium stampede in the Karnataka Assembly on Thursday, Dy CM DK Shivakumar had broke into the RSS anthem during his exchange of words with BJP MLA R Ashoka.
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