In a bold statement at the Congress’s 139th foundation day event in Bengaluru, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah drew a clear distinction between Hinduism and Hindutva, taking a swipe at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He emphasized the difference between being a Hindu and subscribing to Hindutva, asserting that “Haven’t we built Ram temples in our villages? Don’t we worship Rama and do bhajans? I too used to go for bhajans in our village…Aren’t we Hindus? We are also Hindus.”
Siddaramaiah criticized the BJP’s version of Hindutva as “fake,” stating, “Not a single person from BJP, Jan Sangh, RSS, and Sangh Parivar had fought against the British…The falsehood of the BJP should be understood and conveyed to the people.”
The Chief Minister, known for his earlier stand against Hindutva, reiterated his opposition to it while affirming his identity as a Hindu. He expressed concerns about the political use of Hindu faith and emphasized the equality of all faiths according to the Indian Constitution.
Siddaramaiah’s remarks come ahead of the consecration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22, with rituals starting on January 16. The event is expected to draw dignitaries, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is slated to grace the ceremony.
