Rahul Gandhi to visit Siddaganga Mutt; Shivakumar says this is not soft Hindutva politics

Claims Gandhi family's association with religious mutts is nothing new

ITDC INDIA EPRESS/ITDC NEWS R  “The Congress is not following any new tradition of temple hopping. In fact, the Gandhi family's association with religious mutts has a long history,” said Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) chief D.K. Shivakumar, when asked by reporters if Rahul Gandhi's upcoming visit to Siddaganga Mutt in Tumkur on Thursday was part of the grand old party's soft Hindutva politics.

Shivakumar, who addressed a press meet in Bengaluru on Tuesday, said Rahul Gandhi will be visiting the Siddaganga Mutt on the occasion of the 115th birth anniversary of Sri Sri Sri Shivakumara Swamiji. "The Gandhi family's association with religious mutts is nothing new. The bond is comparable to that of the god and the devotee. Indira Gandhi's visits to Sringeri temple and Kanchi Kamakoti peetha to seek their guidance is well known. Rajiv Gandhi had also performed a week-long 'homa' at Sringeri and Sonia Gandhi had visited the Siddaganga Mutt on the occasion of Guru Vandana. It was during S.M. Krishna's tenure (as CM), the Congress government had started the "dasoha" or the mid-may meal scheme for school students, inspired by the mutt tradition."

The Congress leader said Rahul Gandhi had already addressed the question on Hindu and Hindutva in a speech in Jaipur."Hindu and Hindutva are not the same. We are all Hindus. The BJP is trying to divide people on the basis of religion and the BJP government is instigating people and causing people to lose their livelihood. They are targeting a particular community and this will prove to be harmful to the country," said Shivakumar.

Giving a brief on the party's membership drive, Shivakumar said 47 lakh members had been registered in Karnataka and the state unit stood first in the country. "We will get the exact number of new members on March 31."

Elaborating on Rahul Gandhi's visit, Shivakumar said, "Gandhi will be holding a meeting with the leaders from the BBMP areas on March 31 (Thursday).The following day, he will hold a meeting with the sitting legislators, former legislators, defeated candidates of 2018 elections and chiefs of various units and frontal organisations. He will also have an online interaction with those who have actively taken part in the membership drive."

Protest against fuel price hike

On Thursday, the Congress plans to stage a nationwide protest against the price hike between 8 am and 11 am, followed by a social media campaign.

"I appeal to all the party leaders and workers to keep their LPG cylinders and vehicles outside their homes, garland them and play jagate (gong). While doing so, click pictures and make videos and postthem on the social media after tagging the prime minister. This will be followed by a protest rally on April 7, across the districts," said Shivakumar.