'Will Stay Silent': Karnataka Dy CM Shivakumar Amid RSS Anthem Row, Chamundi Hills Row

Karnataka's Deputy CM DK Shivakumar, facing backlash for singing an RSS anthem and comments on a Hindu deity, stated he'll refrain from public statements.

Facing criticism from some party workers for his RSS anthem recital, Shivakumar, who is also state Congress president, recently tendered an apology. 

Source : Facebook

Bengaluru, Aug 28 (PTI) Facing flak over issues, including his singing of the RSS anthem, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Thursday said he would remain mum and that the party's spokespersons be approached for comments on any subject.

Shivakumar has also been criticised by BJP for stating that "Chamundeswari hill is not exclusive property of Hindus".

Mysuru MP and scion of the Mysuru Royal family, Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraj Wadiyar had termed Shivakumar's statement on his family deity as "hurting".

"It's a very painful and ridiculous statement. At a time when people are worshipping the Goddess Gouri and Ganesha, a statement was given that hurts the Hindu sentiments, which is condemnable," Wadiyar, a BJP MP, said.

On Thursday, Shivakumar took a swipe at Wadiyar.

"You see, people don't tolerate when I speak some facts, be it Pramoda Devi (member of the Mysuru royal family), Yaduveer Krishnadatta Wadiyar or inside the Assembly," a visibly upset Deputy CM told reporters.

He said, "People's only job is to find fault in whatever I utter -- be it politicians, journalists or anybody else. This is what is going on. Better not to speak. There are other leaders and party spokesperson. You (reporters) better speak to them." Reporters approached Shivakumar for BJP national general secretary B L Santhosh's post on 'X'.

Targeting the Congress MP Rahul Gandhi for allegedly making Shivakumar apologise for his recital of RSS anthem inside the Karnataka Assembly on August 21, Santhosh posted on 'X': "Let that sink in ...@INCIndia under @RahulGandhi will never tolerate anything concerned with nationalism. They hate it tooth & nail & want everyone who are there with them to oppose anything that is nationalist." The BJP has launched a vehement attack on the Congress for choosing Banu Mushtaq, a Kannada literatteur from Muslim community who won Booker Prize for her book 'Heart Lamp', to inaugurate the Dasara festivities this year.

Alleging that Mushtaq has no respect for Goddess Bhuvaneshwari, another form of Goddess Chamundeshwari, the BJP leaders warned that they would launch a movement against the state government's decision.

Facing criticism from some party workers for his RSS anthem recital, Shivakumar, who is also state Congress president, recently tendered an apology. 

(This report has been published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. Apart from the headline, no editing has been done in the copy by ABP Live.)