Former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday courted controversy when he took a jibe at the radical right. Siddaramaiah, who was at an event to inaugurate the rejuvenation of a lake in Bagalkot's Badami, said that he was "scared of people who wear tilaks."
Speaking to the people of Badami, Siddaramaiah was instructing the tahsildar and local officials to complete the rejuvenation of Agasthya Lake as soon as possible. "Who is the contractor?" Siddaramaiah is heard saying. When the officials point out the contractor among the crowd, Siddaramaiah asked him to complete the work on time. The contractor was wearing a tilak, which the former Chief Minister noticed and said, "You know those people who wear tilaks (referring to members of Hindutva outfits)? I am scared of people who wear tilaks."
A video of Siddaramaiah's statement has gone viral – and several people are now taking to Twitter to upload their #SelfieWithTilak, a campaign started by the BJP.
#WATCH Former Karnataka CM and Congress leader Siddaramaiah, says, "I am scared of people who put long tikas with kumkum or ash", at an event, in Badami, Karnataka, yesterday pic.twitter.com/2UMjVI3DkL
— ANI (@ANI) March 6, 2019
Reacting to Siddaramaiah's statement, Chikkamagaluru BJP MLA CT Ravi accused the former CM of hating Hindus. "Congress leader Siddaramaiah says he is scared of people wearing tilak. Siddaramaiah is wearing tilak. Do you hate Hindus so much Siddaramaiah avare?" CT Ravi tweeted, attaching several photos of Siddaramaiah in which he is seen wearing a tilak.
1) CONgress leader @siddaramaiah says he is scared of people wearing Tilak.
— C T Ravi ಸಿ ಟಿ ರವಿ (@CTRavi_BJP) March 6, 2019
2) & 3) Siddaramaiah wearing Tilak.
Do you hate Hindus so much Siddaramaiah Avare ? ? ? #SelfieWithTilak https://t.co/Ln8xSPeqQI pic.twitter.com/JK5J1B4EjU
BJP national spokesperson Tajinder Bagga began the #SelfieWithTilak trend. "I am tweeting my pic with Tilak to show protest against anti-Hindu/anti-Indian culture CM Siddaramaiah. I request everyone to tweet your pic/selfie with tilak, tag Siddaramaiah with hashtag #SelfieWithTilak," Tajinder Bagga said. (sic)
I am tweeting My pic with Tilak to show Protest against Anti Hindu/Anti Indian Culture CM Siddaramaiah . I request everyone to Tweet your Pic/Selfie with Tilak ,Tag @siddaramaiah with Hashtag #SelfieWithTilak pic.twitter.com/ra5YrwcZUY
— Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga (@TajinderBagga) March 6, 2019
Several people also put up pictures of Congress national President Rahul Gandhi and UPA chief Sonia Gandhi wearing tilaks.
Former Karnataka CM and Congress leader @siddaramaiah, says, "I am scared of people who put long tikas with kumkum or ash", at an event, in Badami, Karnataka@KapilMishra_IND @DrKumarVishwas@myogiadityanath @TajinderBagga @chitraaum @ShashiTharoor @shalabhmani @SudhanshuTrived pic.twitter.com/zr8BI8zLTf
— Shivam Pratap Singh (@shivampratapsi4) March 6, 2019
Such an utter disgusting statement from the former CM @siddaramaiah,
— Shobha Karandlaje (@ShobhaBJP) March 6, 2019
No shame, dignity&decency is left with cong leaders. Completely bankrupt soul filled with venom& Malice.
Tilak has nothing to do with politics, Its all part of Indian culture & I'm proud of it.#SelfieWithTilak pic.twitter.com/nOpZyUoZD5
i think @siddaramaiah was talking about them..#selfiewithtilak pic.twitter.com/ewohXc8zxm
— @nup (@npeubac) March 6, 2019
Here goes my #SelfieWithTilak pic and I am proud to be a Hindu @TajinderBagga
— Priyanka Ranjan (@priyanka4nation) March 6, 2019
I nominate @ankitasood13 @Manesha76 @iSinghApurva for the same pic.twitter.com/WrBC10Lwyn
#SelfieWithTilak Proud of our culture and traditions @TajinderBagga ji pic.twitter.com/dJKpU9uNfl
— Ajay Pratap Singh Tomar (@pratap3491) March 6, 2019
Oh i see, May be @siddaramaiah is right !#SelfieWithTilak pic.twitter.com/0t0bYvS0U7
— Er.Dipen Pandya (@dipenpandya86) March 6, 2019
Unapologetic Staunch Hindu Nationalist#SelfieWithTilak pic.twitter.com/Mukj5LYzd9
— प्रितीश ठाकरे #हिन्दू#AbhinandanMyHero (@PritishThakare) March 6, 2019
Don't misunderstand @siddaramaiah , he was sacred of @RahulGandhi ..He prefers pappu in Topi with holes.... #SelfieWithTilak pic.twitter.com/ZK37UHNioO
— देसी इंजीनियर (@MznBoy) March 6, 2019
#SelfieWithTilak trended on Twitter as scores of people began tweeting their photos.
In response to this, Siddaramaiah on Wednesday evening replied "There is a Chief Minister from @BJP4India who wears saffron & applies Tilak but has lot of criminal cases against him. Will people respect him or feel scared of him?"
There is a Chief Minister from @BJP4India who wears saffron & applies Tilak but has lot of criminal cases against him.
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) March 6, 2019
Will people respect him or feel scared of him?