Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday asserted that Mahatma Gandhi was a staunch Hindu and that the Congress party follows “Gandhi’s Hindutva”.
Speaking at the inauguration of Gandhi Statue in the presence of Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi at Suvarna Vidhana Soudha in Belagavi, Siddaramaiah criticised the BJP for its portrayal of Gandhi as “anti-Hindu”.
“The BJP has always projected Mahatma Gandhi as anti-Hindu, but this is absolutely false,” the Chief Minister said, emphasising Gandhi’s deep connection to Hinduism.
He pointed out that Gandhi frequently invoked the name of Lord Rama, famously uttering “Hey Ram” as his final words when assassinated by Nathuram Godse. “He was a diehard Hindu,” he declared.
The event, marking the centenary of the Congress session that Gandhi had chaired in 1924, was attended by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, and other prominent party leaders. The occasion commemorated Gandhi’s contributions to India’s freedom struggle and governance.
Siddaramaiah further clarified that Gandhi was never opposed to Hinduism but sought reform within it. “He wanted Hindus and Muslims to live as brothers,” the Chief Minister remarked, highlighting Gandhi’s vision of unity and communal harmony.
Echoing this sentiment, he spoke out against the BJP’s divisive politics, stating, “While we believe in Mahatma Gandhi’s Hindutva, they (BJP) believe in dividing society. They are ‘Manuvadis’. We believe in the Indian Constitution, whereas the BJP works against Congress ideology.” The Chief Minister stressed the need to safeguard the Constitution to protect democracy and the nation.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, in his address, underscored the importance of the Constitution in maintaining national order. “Without the Constitution, there would have been anarchy in the country,” Kharge remarked, praising Gandhi for his enduring legacy and contributions to India’s freedom and governance.
The event concluded with a reaffirmation of the Congress party’s commitment to upholding the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi and protecting the Constitution against any forces that seek to undermine it.
