Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge with party MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar, and others during the unveiling of a statue of Mahatma Gandhi, at Suvarna Vidhana Soudha in Belagavi, Karnataka, on January 21, 2025.
“Some BJP members keep alleging that Mahatma Gandhi was anti-Hindu. There is no truth in such allegations. He was a true Hindu. He sought reforms and eradication of social evils like untouchability and discrimination,” Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said in Belagavi on January 21.
He was speaking at a ceremony to unveil a statue of Gandhiji in front of the Suvarna Soudha.
“Gandhiji was a true Hindu. He was always engaged in meditation and bhajan. Till his last breath, he was chanting the name of Lord Ram. Nathuram Ghodse, a man who was blinded by communal hatred, shot Gandhiji. Even then, Gandhiji said Hey Ram and died. There is no need for a better example to prove that he was a true Hindu,” the CM said. “We believe in the Hindutva as understood by Gandhiji. But the BJP does not believe in it. It believes in dividing the society on the basis of caste and religion.”
“Gandhiji sought reforms, but he was never anti-Hindu. He worked towards abolition of untouchability, empowering women and communal harmony. He wanted Hindus and Muslims to live as brothers. He not only helped us fight against British rule, but was also instrumental in shaping the post-independence government and system of governance. We should all be indebted to him,” he said.
“Most of our saints and reformers have opposed the caste discrimination and other social evils. Saints like Basavanna also fought against such social evils. All such ideals were included in the Constitution by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar. While the Congress believes in the principles of the Constitution, the BJP is opposed to it. BJP has been trying to weaken the Constitution for several years. But we should not allow it. We should all protect the Constitution, and it will protect us. We should take the message of Gandhiji to the next generation. I hope the statue of Gandhiji will help us introspect and work towards an equal society,” the CM said.
“We will organise the Jai Bapu, Jai Bhim, Jai Samvidhan campaign with the aim of conveying Gandhiji’s ideas in a more meaningful way, and towards making Gandhiji’s dream of Gram Swaraj a reality,” he said.
Published – January 21, 2025 02:36 pm IST
