'If Ideology Incites Hatred...': Priyank Kharge Seeks Removal Of Savarkar Portrait From Karnataka Assembly

Karnataka minister Priyank Kharge has demanded removal of Savarkar's portrait from inside Assembly's chamber.

Karnataka minister and Congress leader Priyank Kharge

Source : PTI File Photo

Karnataka minister and Congress leader Priyank Kharge on Thursday strongly opined that the portrait of Hindutva ideologue Vinayak Damodar Savarkar should not be there inside the state assembly amid the speculation that the photograph will be taken down. 

"I am of the strong opinion that Savarkar's photo should not be there in the Assembly or in the Counsel," said the minister while speaking to reporters on Thursday. 

"If BJP has a problem with it, it is their problem. It is my opinion that anybody whose ideology incites hatred, creates division should not be there, Savarkar's portrait should not be there," he added. 

#WATCH | Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge says, "I am of the strong opinion that Savarkar's photo should not be there in the Assembly or in the Counsel. If BJP has a problem with it, it is their problem. It is my opinion that anybody whose ideology incites hatred, creates… pic.twitter.com/P7pE3sCd2K

— ANI (@ANI) December 7, 2023

A life-size portrait of Savarkar was unveiled inside the Karnataka Assembly chamber at the ‘Suvarna Vidhana Soudha’, along with several national icons during the previous dipensation of the Bharatiya Janata Party. 

The move had drawn flak from Congress back then who alleging that the party was kept in the dark.

Speculations are now rife that the portrait will be taken down from the assembly chamber while Chief Minister Siddaramaiah asserted that the decision will be taken by the Speaker. 

Savarkar's portrait was unveiled along with Swami Vivekananda, Subash Chandra Bose, B R Ambedkar, Basaveshwara, Mahatma Gandhi, and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel just before the winter session of the state legislature last year. 

The IT minister had back then also criticised the BJP government in the state for putting up the portrait. “Congratulations to BJP for unveiling “Veer” Savarkar’s portrait in Vidhana Soudha. He is now sharing space with Basavanna, Babasaheb,Netaji etc,” said in a post on X in December last year.