Karnataka BJP MP Tejasvi Surya attacked the Congress party on Friday, February 28 for its alleged ‘anti-Hindu’ politics. Coming in defence of Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, who is also the state Congress president, he questioned why he had to offer repeated clarifications for participating in a Hindu religious event.
“That DCM DK Shivkumar is having to make repeated clarifications for going to Mahakumbh and participating in a Shivaratri programme as a practising Hindu, displays the anti-Hindu politics of the Congress Party, where a Hindu leader is forced to clarify multiple times for simply practising his faith,” Tejasvi Surya commented.
A controversy erupted over DK Shivakumar attending the Mahashivaratri event hosted by Jaggi Vasudev at his Isha Yoga Center in Coimbatore. At the event, the Karnataka Deputy CM shared the stage with Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Before attending the event, Shivakumar posted a thank-you note expressing gratitude for the invitation. However, his association with Jaggi Vasudev drew criticism from several Congress leaders.
Openly expressing displeasure, All India Congress Committee (AICC) secretary PV Mohan questioned why Shivakumar was aligning with someone who frequently mocks Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
“Thanking for an invitation from someone who mocks RG (Rahul Gandhi), the hope of the nation & aligns with RSS’s narratives, while serving as a president of a secular party, misleads party workers. It is conviction rather than compromise (that) ensures the party’s growth. Otherwise, it damages the core,” Mohan said.
Mohan suggested that Shivakumar’s actions could undermine the party’s secular stance and mislead Congress workers.
In response, Shivakumar firmly defended his participation. “I am a Hindu. I was born Hindu and will die as a Hindu, but I love and respect all religions. Our Congress president’s name is Mallikarjun Kharge. Who is Mallikarjuna? It’s Shiva only. Should he change his name?” he asked.
Justifying his presence at the event, Shivakumar stated, “Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev of Isha Foundation came and invited me. He is from Mysuru. He is a great man, and I admire his knowledge and stature, but there are many who criticise him.”
Speculation over Shivakumar’s political leanings has intensified, particularly after he praised Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s management of the Maha Kumbh Mela. Despite a tragic stampede that claimed at least 79 lives, Shivakumar downplayed the incident, stating, “My experience regarding Maha Kumbh was very good. I appreciated the way they organised it. It is not a small job. There might be some problems here and there. Trains may have caused problems. I don’t like to find faults. It is very satisfactory.”
Dismissing rumours of a shift in allegiance, Shivakumar called it a political conspiracy.
He invoked Sonia Gandhi’s example to counter claims of ideological dilution. “The Congress party has the doctrine of taking everyone together. Mahatma Gandhi, Nehru, and Indira Gandhi have done the same. I have seen Sonia Gandhi celebrating the Ugadi festival. She has adopted Indianness rather than us. We have such leadership,” he said.