KARNATAKA Deputy Chief Minister and state Congress president DK Shivakumar’s participation in the Mahashivaratri celebrations in Tamil Nadu which was attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah has come in for criticism from his party, and the senior leader asserting he was a “born Hindu and will die” as one. Shivakumar’s assertion came amidst a section of Congress leaders including All India Congress Committee (AICC) secretary P V Mohan raising voice against his participation in the Mahashivaratri ceremony at Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev’s Isha Yoga Center in Tamil Nadu’s Coimbatore.

 

Sharing a screen shot of Shivakumar’s post on ‘X’ about his Coimbatore visit, Mohan wrote, “Thanking for an invitation from someone who mocks RG (Rahul Gandhi), the hope of the nation & aligns with RSS’s narratives, while serving as a president of a secular party, it misleads party workers. It is conviction rather than compromise (that) ensures the party’s growth. Otherwise, it damages the core.” When reporters asked Shivakumar about his Coimbatore visit during a press conference on Wednesday, the deputy CM said: “Our Congress president’s name is Mallikarjun Kharge. Who is Mallikarjuna? It’s Shiva only. Should he change his name,” Sharing his Mahakumbh experience, the Congress leader said it was well organised and he would prefer not to find fault with it. “My experience regarding Mahakumbh was very good. I appreciated the way they organised it.

 

It is not a small job.Theremightbesomeproblemshereandthere.Trainsmay have caused problems.Idon’t like to find faults. It is very satisfactory.” He further added,“I ama Hindu.Iam aborn Hindu and I will die asaHindu but I love and respect all the religions.”Explainingsatisfaction inspiritualterms, Shivakumar said some devotees perform Pooja themselves while some hire priests for it. Quoting a Sanskrit verse, he said,“withthepriest’sprayers, Shiva canmanifestina stone.”

 

While asserting his faith in Hinduism, he also underlined his respectforotherbelief systems. “When I was in jail, I had learnt about Sikhism and the way it was founded. I took classes on Sikhism while in jail,” the DCM said. Shivakumarfurthersaidvisits Jain monasteries, Dargah andchurcheswherethepriests of all the three communities bless him. “They bless me. Should I lock their mouths,” he asked.