Amid party backlash, Shivakumar apologises for singing RSS anthem in assembly
During a recent discussion in Karnataka legislative assembly, KPCC president Shivakumar sang RSS anthem much to the discomfort of his party members
Deputy Chief Minister and KPCC president D K Shivakumar, who stirred up a storm in the Congress party by singing lines from the RSS anthem in the state legislative assembly at the recently concluded monsoon session, has finally apologised for his behaviour on Tuesday (August 26).
Amid intense opposition from senior leaders within his own party and public pressure, Shivakumar, who had declared himself as a 'born Congressman' after the row immediately broke out, decided to finally address the controversy.
The Congress leader said, "I express regret and seek forgiveness if my statement has hurt any senior leaders, functionaries, or workers of the party. The party and its principles are more important to me than my personal stance. I am always committed to the party's principles."
With this apology, the Congress leader, known to be a troubleshooter in the state Congress, attempted to put the raging controversy, swirling in state politics for the past few days, to rest.
The controversy
Hitting out at Shivakumar for his actions, senior Congress leader and legislative council member BK Hariprasad told reporters, "The BJP will naturally welcome such developments. The RSS has been banned three times in the country. If DK Shivakumar sings as deputy chief minister, we have no objection, but as KPCC president, singing a song from the organisation responsible for Mahatma Gandhi's assassination is unacceptable. He should apologise to the party workers."