Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and party MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy CM DK 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 saying that Mahatma Gandhi was anti-Hindu. There is no truth in such allegations. He was a true Hindu. He wanted reforms and the elimination of social evils like untouchability and discrimination,” said Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in Belagavi on January 21.
He was speaking at the unveiling ceremony of Gandhiji’s statue in front of Suvarna Soudha.
“Gandhiji was a true Hindu. He used to meditate and bhajan. Until he breathed his last, he chanted the name of Lord Ram. Nathuram Ghodse, a man blinded by public hatred, shot Gandhiji. Even then, said Gandhiji Hey Ram and he died. There is no need for a better example to prove that he was a true Hindu,” the CM said. “We believe in Hindutva as understood by Gandhiji. But BJP does not believe in it. It believes in dividing society on the basis of racism and religion.”
“Gandhiji wanted reforms, but he never opposed the Hindus. She worked for ending untouchability, empowering women and social harmony. He wanted Hindus and Muslims to live as brothers. He not only helped us to fight the British rule, but also contributed to the formation of the post-independence government and system of governance. We should all owe him,” he said.
“Many of our saints and reformers have resisted caste discrimination and other social evils. Saints like Basavanna also fought against such evils in the society. All these ideas were included in the Constitution by Dr. BR Ambedkar. While the Congress believes in the principles of the Constitution, the BJP opposes it. The BJP has been trying to weaken the Constitution for several years. But we shouldn’t allow it. We must all protect the Constitution, and it will protect us. We have to take Gandhiji’s message to the next generation. I hope that Gandhiji’s statue will help us to look and work for an equal society,” the CM said.
“We will organize the Jai Bapu, Jai Bhim, Jai Samvidhan campaign with the aim of conveying Gandhiji’s ideals in a meaningful way, and making Gandhiji’s dream of Gram Swaraj a reality,” he said.
Published – January 21, 2025 02:36 pm IST