BENGALURU: Karnataka’s Deputy Chief Minister, D.K. Shivakumar, caused a stir in the state assembly by reciting the opening lines of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s (RSS) anthem, “Namaste Sada Vatsale Matrubhoome.” The unexpected act, which occurred during a heated debate, has since gone viral on social media, sparking widespread political speculation.
The incident unfolded during a discussion on the stampede that took place outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Responding to accusations from the opposition BJP, who had demanded his resignation, Shivakumar broke into the Sangh’s prayer. This move was met with cheers and table-thumping from the BJP benches, while his own Congress party members were reportedly stunned into silence.
The viral video has triggered a debate given the long-standing ideological opposition between the Congress and the RSS, which is considered the ideological parent of the BJP. The move was particularly surprising as Shivakumar had, just days earlier, dismissed the RSS’s history in comparison to the Congress party’s legacy.
Following the incident, Shivakumar clarified his actions, stating that the act was not a signal of any political shift. “I am a born Congressman,” he said, “my blood, my life, everything is here. I have done research on all political parties. I know how the RSS is building institutions in Karnataka, acquiring schools. As a leader, I should know who my opponents are and who my friends are.” He added that while he and the RSS have many political differences, he has “gone very deep” into understanding them.
Shivakumar has previously acknowledged attending RSS shakhas during his youth in Bengaluru’s Rajajinagar area, a fact that was brought up by the Leader of the Opposition, R. Ashoka, during the assembly session. The Deputy CM’s recitation of the anthem, while framed as a political statement of his deep knowledge of his opponents, has ignited a fresh round of political debate and fueled speculation about the dynamics within the state’s political corridors.
