'Tiger in assembly, mouse before Congress high command': BJP, JD(S) term DK Shivakumar's apology a cowardly act to stay in power

BENGALURU: Under fire from within the party, Karnataka deputy CM DK Shivakumar Tuesday apologised for singing the RSS anthem in the legislative assembly and doubled down on his unalloyed loyalty to the Congress and the Gandhi family. "My loyalty to the Gandhi family is like that of a devotee to god - bhakta and bhagavanta," Shivakumar said in a second clarification since controversy erupted last week.

"I'm sorry if anyone is hurt. None from the party high command has questioned me on this. However, I thought I should apologise to my supporters and well-wishers," Shivakumar said, defending that he had made only a passing reference to the RSS anthem in the assembly. During a discussion, he explained, on the stampede tragedy on Aug 21, he sang a few lines of the anthem to pull the leg of opposition leader R Ashoka.

Shivakumar added, “That was my only intention. I did not mean it otherwise.

Certainly, it was not to praise them.”MLC BK Hariprasad said, “We’ve no objection to Shivakumar singing the RSS anthem as deputy CM because a govt belongs to all, including the RSS. If he sings it as Congress president, he’ll have to apologise.” Former minister KN Rajanna, too, condemned it.Shivakumar said: “My loyalty to Congress is beyond question. I’m a born Congressman, I’ll die as a Congressman.”He added, “I’ve been working with AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge for 35-40 years.

Ever since I took charge (of the state party), I haven’t slept a single day peacefully.”Recalling his political struggles, he noted: “During elections in Gujarat, more than 70 raids were conducted and 400-500 cases were lodged against me… I was sent to Tihar Jail… Supreme Court has since dismissed ED cases filed against me. Anyone who wants to know about my history, commitment, and ideology is welcome,” he said, maintaining his reference to the RSS anthem was being twisted.

“What matters is that I remain with the party.

That is my commitment.”Welcoming Shivakumar's apology, Hariprasad said none in the party should “legitimise” the Sangh in any manner. “Congress party was not built by me or DKS. Someone has given it to us to save it for the future. If we’ve strength, we’ll have to save it and give it to the future generation. No one is permanent, no one will live for 500 years,” Hariprasad said.He clarified the issue was with the act of singing the prayer of an organisation that killed Mahatma Gandhi. BJP and JD(S) called the apology “a cowardly act”, aimed at remaining in power and proving loyalty to the Gandhi family. BJP said Shivakumar should have apologised when ‘Pakistan zindabad’ slogans were raised on Vidhana Soudha premises rather than now.BENGALURU:“(The act of apology) is tragic. Instead of becoming loyal to the Gandhi family, you (Shivakumar) should first become a desh bhakt (a patriot). Sangh's prayer teaches patriotism. It is tragic you have forgotten patriotism to be seen as loyal to the Gandhi family,” said BJP general secretary and MLA Sunil Kumar. JD(S) also claimed in an X post that Shivakumar is “a tiger in the assembly and a mouse before the high