Karnataka MLC and son of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Yathindra Siddaramaiah, has sparked controversy with his comments on Hindutva, calling it "dangerous" for the country. His remarks have drawn sharp criticism from the opposition BJP, escalating the political tension in the state.
Speaking at an event, Yathindra said, “Ambedkar once said that this country should be a secular nation. If it becomes a Hindu nation, nothing can be more dangerous for the country. However, nowadays, for their political gain, some parties are trying to turn this country into a mono-religion nation. This is very dangerous, and we should not let this happen.”
The BJP responded strongly to Yathindra’s remarks, questioning his stance on Hindutva and accusing him of undermining Hindu values. BJP MLA Ashwath Narayan specifically asked whether Yathindra identifies as a Hindu and criticised his comments. He emphasized the importance of working towards Hindutva, promoting traditional culture, and upholding Sanatana Dharma, as per a report on India Today.
Ashwath Narayan further questioned the rationale behind Yathindra’s "irresponsible statement." While acknowledging the democratic right to express opinions, he asserted that such remarks, which hurt people’s sentiments, were unacceptable.
He demanded that Yathindra withdraw his remarks and apologise to the Hindu community.
Meanwhile, BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi strongly criticised Congress MLC Yathindra Siddaramaiah's remarks on the idea of India as a Hindu-majority nation, emphasising that Hindutva represents the essence of humanity and transcends religious and cultural boundaries.
Speaking to IANS, Naqvi defended Hindutva as integral to India's identity, rejecting accusations against it as baseless. He accused critics of Hindutva of harboring a mindset akin to the Taliban and targeting Hindu culture and traditions.
Naqvi also responded to claims by the Samajwadi Party alleging voter suppression of minorities, particularly Muslims, during the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.