Explorer

Union Minister Hegde kicks up controversy with remarks on secularism

Union Minister Ananth Kumar Hegde has kicked up yet another controversy when he mocked at secularists with his remark.

BENGALURU: Union Minister Ananth Kumar Hegde has kicked up yet another controversy when he mocked at secularists with his remark that they are unaware of their parentage. The remark by the five-time Lok Sabha MP from Karnataka that comes months ahead of the Assembly elections in the southern state sparked condemnation from Chief Minister Siddaramaiah who on Monday said the BJP leader does not know parliamentary or political language. Hegde, 49, said a new tradition was in vogue, where people project themselves as secular, but asserted he would feel "happy" if someone claims with pride that he is a Muslim, or a Christian, or a Lingayat, or a Brahmin, or a Hindu. "I feel happy because he (the person) knows about his blood, but I don't know what to call those who claim themselves secular," said the minister for skill development and entrepreneurship. "Those who, without knowing about their parental blood, call themselves secular, they don't have their own identity... They don't know about their parentage, but they are intellectuals," he said at an event organised by the Brahman Yuva Parishad in Kukanur town in Koppal district on Sunday. He launched the Parishad's website and women's wing on Sunday. Urging people to identify with their religion or caste, Hegde said, "I will bow to you, you are aware of your blood. But if you claim to be secular, there arises a doubt about who you are." He said he respects the Constitution but "it will be changed in the days to come". "We are here for that and that is why we have come." Hitting out at Hegde, Siddaramaiah said the minister has not studied the Constitution, does not know parliamentary or political language. He said Hegde has not learnt the social system and added that people belonging to various religions live in India. "Each and every individual in this country is an Indian, and every religion has equal right and opportunity. He does not have this basic knowledge," Siddaramaiah told reporters in Hubballi. Hegde is no stranger to controversies. A case was recently registered against him for allegedly using derogatory language against Siddaramaiah at Kittur in Belagavi district. He had been slapped with cases for his "hate speeches", including one where he allegedly equated Islam with terrorism. Commenting on the Tipu Sultan Jayanti controversy in Karnataka, Hegde was also quoted as having said at a public meeting that it is a matter of time before Chief Minister Siddaramaiah starts making people celebrate "Kasab Jayanti." Ajmal Kasab was the lone surviving gunman from the coordinated terrorist attacks in Mumbai in 2008 that left 166 people dead. Kasab was hanged four years later. Hegde was criticising Siddaramaiah for state-wide celebrations to mark Tipu Sultan s birth anniversary on November 10. The union minister was known to be vehemently opposed to the state celebrations of Tipu Jayanti since it was started in 2015 and had called the festival a "shameful event glorifying a brutal killer."
View More
Advertisement

IPL Auction 2025

Most Expensive Players In The Squad
Virat Kohli
₹21 CR
Josh Hazlewood
₹12.50 CR
Phil Salt
₹11.50 CR
View all
Most Expensive Players In The Squad
Rishabh Pant
₹27 CR
Nicholas Pooran
₹21 CR
Ravi Bishnoi
₹11 CR
View all
Most Expensive Players In The Squad
Jasprit Bumrah
₹18 CR
Suryakumar Yadav
₹16.35 CR
Hardik Pandya
₹16.35 CR
View all
Most Expensive Players In The Squad
Heinrich Klaasen
₹23 CR
Pat Cummins
₹18 CR
Abhishek Sharma
₹14 CR
View all
Most Expensive Players In The Squad
Ruturaj Gaikwad
₹18 CR
Ravindra Jadeja
₹18 CR
Matheesha Pathirana
₹13 CR
View all
Most Expensive Players In The Squad
Shreyas Iyer
₹26.75 CR
Arshdeep Singh
₹18 CR
Yuzvendra Chahal
₹18 CR
View all
Most Expensive Players In The Squad
Sanju Samson
₹18 CR
Yashaswi Jaiswal
₹18 CR
Riyan Parag
₹14 CR
View all
Most Expensive Players In The Squad
Venkatesh Iyer
₹23.75 CR
Rinku Singh
₹13 CR
Varun Chakaravarthy
₹12 CR
View all
Most Expensive Players In The Squad
Rashid Khan
₹18 CR
Shubman Gill
₹16.50 CR
Jos Buttler
₹15.75 CR
View all
Most Expensive Players In The Squad
Axar Patel
₹16.50 CR
KL Rahul
₹14 CR
Kuldeep Yadav
₹13.25 CR
View all
Advertisement
25°C
New Delhi
Rain: 100mm
Humidity: 97%
Wind: WNW 47km/h
See Today's Weather
powered by
Accu Weather
Advertisement

Top Headlines

Maharashtra CM To Be From BJP, Two Deputies, Oath-Taking Likely On Dec 2 — What We Know So Far
Maharashtra CM To Be From BJP, Two Deputies, Oath-Taking Likely On Dec 2 — What We Know So Far
Court Agrees To Hear Petition Claiming Ajmer Dargah As Shiv Temple, Summons Dargah Committee, ASI
Court Agrees To Hear Petition Claiming Ajmer Dargah As Shiv Temple, Summons Dargah Committee, ASI
'Never Had Disagreements In Mahayuti': Fadnavis Says After Shinde Leaves CM Post Decision To BJP
'Never Had Disagreements In Mahayuti': Fadnavis Says After Shinde Leaves CM Post Decision To BJP
Retired Bureaucrats, Judges Seek PM Modi's Intervention After Chinmoy Das' 'Unjust' Arrest In Bangladesh
Retired Bureaucrats, Judges Seek PM Modi's Intervention After Chinmoy Das' 'Unjust' Arrest In Bangladesh
Advertisement
ABP Premium

Videos

Sambhal Clash: Silence spread in Hindu Kheda area near Jama Masjid, houses locked...people missingABP News: Big news on Devendra Fadnavis, Eknath Shinde, Maharashtra Elections, Sambhal CaseSambhal Masjid Clash: Why was Kashmir mentioned amid Sambhal violence? Watch the report | ABP NewsMP News: How right or wrong is the ban on Muslim shops during Maha Kumbh? | ABP News | Hindi News

Photo Gallery

Embed widget