Turbulence ahead in Karnataka as BJP govt unveils portrait of Savarkar in Suvarna Vidhana Soudha

“We were informed only about putting up the portraits of Mahatma Gandhi and Ambedkar inside the Assembly. We have not received any official invitation from Speaker Kageri. This event has not been brought to the notice of all the elected members,” Siddaramaiah fumed.

Speaker Kageri had not responded to questions on whether Savarkar’s portrait and those of the others would be unveiled in the Assembly on the inaugural day of the winter session. He said he had invited everyone to the event.

VD Savarkar’s portrait alongside Basavanna, Dr BR Ambedkar, Swami Vivekananda, Netaji Bose, Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Patel unveiled in Suvarna Soudha. @CMofKarnataka @BSBommai says it was Speaker Kageri’s decision. pic.twitter.com/cIdzy3hdMM

— Anusha Ravi Sood (@anusharavi10) December 19, 2022

Siddaramaiah writes to Kageri

Opposing the installation of Savarkar’s portrait in the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha, Siddaramaiah penned a letter to Speaker Kageri, urging him to install the portraits of Maharshi Valmiki, Basavanna, Kanakadasa, Sishinal Sharif and other prominent personalities in the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha.

“The Speaker should put all the above portraits inside the Assembly as their contribution to Indian culture, heritage and development is immense,” Siddaramaiah said.

On unveiling Savarkar’s portrait in the Assembly, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said: “The works inside the Assembly session is left to the purview of the Speaker. I will hold talks with Speaker Kageri and Opposition Leader Siddaramaiah on the matter.”

“The Speaker’s office has not informed us about unveiling the portrait of Savarkar. We will comment on it only after unveiling the portrait,” KPCC president DK Shivakumar told reporters at Belagavi.

Congress boycotts

Meanwhile, the Congress boycotted the unveiling ceremony of seven portraits inside the Assembly hall, scheduled at 10:30 am. They, however, attended the session which started at 11 am.

Terming it part of the BJP agenda, Congress leader and chief whip of the legislative council, MLC Prakash Rathod, said: “It is sad that Savarkar portrait is being installed. They are putting up the photo of Savarkar, who had written a mercy petition to the British.”

“There are many prominent personalities like the first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru and deputy prime minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel who fought for India’s freedom. The BJP has installed a huge statue of Patel but they forgot to install the portraits of these personalities in the Assembly,” Rathod said.

“It is unfortunate that they are installing Savarkar’s portrait. It is the BJP agenda. They are making efforts to alter the history of this country,” he added.

Also read: What to expect from Karnataka winter session?

‘Hinduism is a drama for BJP’

Calling ‘BJP’s Hinduism a drama,’ Karnataka Congress unit president DK Shivakumar on Monday, 19 December, asserted that the Hinduism practised by him and others in the party was better than that practised by the ruling party.

The Karnataka Congress chief, however, said what Congress propagates is the Constitution.

“We all are Hindus, we are born Hindus, we will die as Hindus. We are performing (practising) Hinduism better than them (BJP). Theirs is a drama, but ours is from within,” Shivakumar said in response to a question whether the BJP government was trying to bring Hindutva agenda to front again.

“Our feelings, devotion and practice, also our rituals and ideals are Hindu. What we propagate is our Constitution,” he added.

Shivakumar’s remarks have come in the backdrop of unveiling of the portrait of Hindutva ideologue Savarkar in the ‘Suvarna Vidhana Soudha’.

(With inputs from PTI)