Congress believes in Gandhian Hindutva: Siddaramaiah

Speaking at the unveiling of Mahatma Gandhi's statue outside the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha in Belagavi, Siddaramaiah dismissed the BJP’s portrayal of Gandhi as ‘anti-Hindu’ as “100 per cent false”.

The event also commemorated the centenary of the historic 1924 Congress session — the only one presided over by Gandhi.

Chief Minister of Karnataka Shri @siddaramaiah delivered a public address on the occasion of the unveiling of Mahatma Gandhi's statue at the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha.

Siddaramaiah highlighted Gandhi’s unwavering connection to his faith, stating, “Mahatma Gandhi constantly invoked Lord Rama. Even at the moment of his assassination by Nathuram Godse, his last words were ‘Hey Ram’. If that doesn’t reflect his devout Hinduism, what does?”

He noted that Gandhi’s vision of Hinduism, however, was never about exclusion but about reform and harmony: “Gandhi wanted Hindus and Muslims to coexist as brothers. His Hindutva was defined by love, tolerance and reform, unlike the divisive ideologies propagated by the BJP, which are rooted in Manuvad [the doctrines of the Manusmriti],” he said.

The chief minister accused the BJP of systematically undermining Gandhi’s ideals and attempting to erode the Constitution. He reaffirmed the Congress’ dedication to safeguarding the Constitution and democracy.

“If we protect the Constitution, it will protect us,” Siddaramaiah said, emphasising the importance of secularism and inclusivity as the foundation of the Indian nation.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge echoed these sentiments, holding up Gandhi’s enduring influence as the moral compass of India.

By championing ‘Gandhi’s Hindutva’, the Congress seems to be reclaiming the discourse on Hinduism, challenging the BJP’s narrative with a vision of unity in diversity and reform.

"Amit Shah insulted Babasaheb in Parliament and said, ‘If someone had taken the name of God so much, they would have gone to heaven in seven lives.’ We all protested against this insult and staged a sit-in against Amit Shah and demanded his resignation. Our demand even today is that Amit Shah must resign from his post," said Kharge.

With a clear focus on safeguarding democracy and protecting the rights of marginalised communities, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s speech set the tone for the Congress’ nation wide campaign, sharpening the ideological battle lines with the BJP.

The rally, rooted in the themes of justice, equality and Constitutional values, marked a strong offensive by the Congress against the BJP's Hindutva agenda.

The public meeting was originally planned for 27 December 2024, but was postponed due to the passing of former prime minister Manmohan Singh. Now, with Republic Day around the corner and the Delhi assembly elections in the offing, the party’s renewed dedication to the stated values takes on added importance.