Lingayat shadow over Congress in Jamkhandi, D K Shivakumar, M B Patil spar
Bengaluru: Strongly defending his public apology over the previous Congress government’s decision to fight for separate religion status for Lingayats, Water Resources minister, D.K. Shivakumar on Friday asserted that no government or political party should get involved in matters concerning culture, religion and caste even as his remark led to an angry outburst from Lingayat Congress leader M.B. Patil.
Mr Shivakumar reignited the debate over separate religion status for Lingayats with the public apology while participating in the Dasara Sammelan of the Rambhapuri seer, Veer Someshwara Shivarcharya Swami, in Gadag district on Thursday. “Several ministers said many things, but there is no bigger testament to the fact than the people’s verdict recently,” he said and sought “forgiveness” from the people of Karnataka for his party’s interference in religious matters.
He also implied that the Congress, which had stormed to power in 2013 by bagging 122 of the 224 seats, was reduced to 78 in the May assembly election in 2018 because of this.
Mr Shivakumar’s statement led to howls of protest in his own party with former water resources minister, M.B. Patil who was a vocal proponent of separate religion status lashing out stating he must analyse where the party had lost and where it had gained ground.
This rift could have an impact on Congress prospects in the Jamkhandi Assembly bypoll.
“It is South Karnataka and Coastal Karnataka where the Congress failed to win. Which means that the region from where Mr Shivakumar hails, has not given us the required numbers. He must introspect on why the party lost instead of talking ill about the movement which gave us a foothold in a region where Lingayats are influential,” he retorted angrily. Mr Patil added “There is no question of the government interfering in religious matters. So, there is no question of apologizing. To publicly apologize for something that did not happen is not right.”
Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru on Mr Patil’s outburst, Mr Shivakumar said, “Some may not agree with it, some may accuse me, some may think what I am saying is wrong, but I am speaking from my conscience. I have been looking at the sentiments of people and believe that in matters of culture, religion and caste, no government or political party should get involved.”
The latest tussle between senior Congress leaders may intensify infighting within the party, said sources. Mr Shivakumar’s statement also comes at a time when the Congress party at the national level is grappling with controversies pertaining to the remarks made by prominent leaders like Shashi Tharoor and Ghulam Nabi Azad.
