GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 19th Oct: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has stirred a political storm with his remarks cautioning people to “stay away from Sanatanis” and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). His comments, made during the silver jubilee celebrations of Mysore University, have sparked a fierce backlash from the BJP and right-wing groups.
“Keep your company right. Associate with those who stand for society, not with those who oppose social change or with ‘Sanatanis’,” Siddaramaiah said while inaugurating the university’s new Jnana Darshana building. Referring to a recent incident where a shoe was hurled at the Chief Justice of India, he added, “The fact that a ‘Sanatani’ threw a shoe at the CJI shows such orthodox elements still exist. This act should be condemned not just by Dalits but by everyone.”
The Chief Minister further accused the RSS of historically opposing Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and the Constitution. “Who opposed this Constitution? Manuvadis opposed it. Golwalkar opposed it. Savarkar opposed it. Even now they oppose it. We must be alert and speak the truth,” he said.
His remarks come amid tensions over an RSS march that the Karnataka government initially denied permission for — a decision later overturned by the High Court, which allowed the event on a revised date.
The BJP swiftly hit back, alleging that Siddaramaiah’s comments were meant to divert attention from corruption charges against him. RSS leader Rajiv Tuli said Congress’s “animosity toward the RSS is old, not new,” recalling Jawaharlal Nehru’s 1948 call to “crush” the organisation. Right-wing leader Vinod Bansal added, “A Chief Minister who has ‘Ram’ in his parents’ names and ‘Parvati’ in his wife’s name tells people to avoid Sanatanis — that’s irony.”
Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, however, distanced himself from Siddaramaiah’s remarks, saying, “I do not want to comment on that. You can ask me whatever you want on my side.”
