‘Savarkar’s thoughts can’t protect Dalits,’ Siddaramaiah responds to ‘discrimination’ by RSS

‘Ambedkar’s thought will protect’

He said, “The leaders of the Sangh Parivar, who always chant the mantra ‘We are all Hindus’, actually try to socially marginalise the Shudra and Dalit communities.”

Siddaramaiah added, “Dalit community leaders like Goolihatti Shekhar can be protected only by Babasaheb Ambedkar’s thought and constitution and not by the thoughts of Savarkar and Golwalkar of the Sangh Parivar. I hope Shekhar learns from his experience.”

Taking on the people who criticised the caste-based reservation the Karnataka CM said the reservation system was a powerful tool to eradicate casteism.

He further questioned: “Those who were questioning how many more years of reservation should be given, will (you) today be responsible for the humiliation of Gulihatti Shekhar? For this reason, I have said a hundred times before, I will say it again now, ‘As long as casteism and untouchability are alive, there must be a system of reservation’.”

ಶೂದ್ರರು ಮತ್ತು ದಲಿತರಿಗೆ ಆರ್.ಎಸ್.ಎಸ್ ಗರ್ಭಗುಡಿಗೆ ಪ್ರವೇಶ ಇಲ್ಲ, ಅವರೇನಿದ್ದರೂ ಹೊರಬಾಗಿಲಲ್ಲಿ ನಿಂತು ‘ಜೀ..ಜೀ..ಹುಜೂರ್’ ಎಂದಷ್ಟೇ ಹೇಳಬೇಕು. ಇದಕ್ಕೆ ಬಿಜೆಪಿಯ ಮಾಜಿ ಶಾಸಕ ಗೂಳಿಹಟ್ಟಿ ಶೇಖರ್ ಅವರು ಬಿ.ಎಲ್ ಸಂತೋಷ್‌ ಅವರಿಗೆ ಕಳುಹಿಸಿರುವ ವಾಟ್ಸಾಪ್ ವಾಯ್ಸ್ ರೆಕಾರ್ಡ್ ಸಾಕ್ಷಿ.

ಬಿಜೆಪಿ ಮತ್ತು ಆರ್.ಎಸ್.ಎಸ್ ಪರಿವಾರ ಬಹಿರಂಗವಾಗಿ… pic.twitter.com/gUCp6DvPJR

— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) December 6, 2023

The Karnataka IT Minister Priyank Kharge also criticised the BJP and RSS.

The minister asked the BJP leader BL Santosh for clarification, and also claimed, that RSS was, and will always be anti-SC/ST.

He added: “You use Dalits and backward to fight your wars while you sit back and enjoy the show. Isn’t it true, Ji (BL Santosh)?”

Dearest @blsanthosh ji,
On the day of #MahaparinirvanDiwas,
Former @BJP4Karnataka Minister Sri. Goolihatti Shekhar is asking a very simple clarification, why was he denied entry to RSS founder Hedgewar’s house (now a museum) because he is a Dalit?

Listen to his plea Ji.… pic.twitter.com/QWiU1iVjBz

— Priyank Kharge / ಪ್ರಿಯಾಂಕ್ ಖರ್ಗೆ (@PriyankKharge) December 6, 2023

Related: Karnataka ex-minister alleges discrimination by RSS; Sangh refutes

Caste-based discrimination

The BJP leader Shekhar has levelled serious allegations against the RSS that he was denied entry to Nagpur’s Hedgewar Museum earlier this year for being a Dalit.

A purported audio clip of the former Hosadurga MLA seeking clarification from BJP national general secretary (organisation) BL Santosh as to why he was denied entry to the museum has gone viral on social media platforms.

Shekhar confirmed to reporters that it was he who shared the audio on social media as he was deeply pained by the incident. He had sent the same audio message to Santosh.

The incident reportedly occurred months before the May 2023 Karnataka Assembly elections, claimed Shekhar.

Stating that he was deeply pained by the humiliation at the museum, Shekhar told Kannada daily Prajavani: “I had high regard for RSS leaders because they served the country. I was deeply hurt when I was denied entry into the museum. I was not able to openly share my opinion about the incident as I was under the influence of the political party. However, I spoke with many leaders privately about the incident.”

He added: “As no one has responded properly, I have disclosed that I stand by my statement. This is my bitter experience.”

It may be noted that Gulihatti Shekhar was denied a ticket from Hosadurga by the BJP high command in this year’s Karnataka Assembly polls. He contested unsuccessfully as an independent from the same segment.

Also read: Assault on Karnataka Dalit MLA exposes BJP infighting

RSS refutes the allegations

In response to the allegations, the RSS issued a firm and categorical denial, refuting claims that entry to its premises was restricted based on caste.

The RSS, headquartered in Nagpur, emphasised its open-door policy, asserting that there was no system in place to restrict access to its offices or memorial buildings.

In a press statement, the RSS’s Bengaluru wing said: “Thousands of individuals, spanning various castes and classes, freely come and go without encountering any barriers.”

After the audio went viral, BJP leaders — including R Ashok — refrained from responding to the allegations.

Also read: Karnataka police book 30 for trolling, threatening Dalit lecturer