Bengaluru, August 26, 2025 — A moment intended as a political jibe has ballooned into a full-blown controversy after Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar recited lines from the RSS anthem “Namaste Sada Vatsale Matrubhoome” on the floor of the state Assembly. What Shivakumar described as a sarcastic attempt to mock the BJP instead sparked an ideological debate within the Congress and drew widespread reactions across the political spectrum.

The incident took place during a heated discussion on the recent stampede at Chinnaswamy Stadium, where Shivakumar, while addressing BJP MLAs, recited the opening lines of the RSS anthem. While BJP members cheered, many in his own party were stunned. The Congress, long opposed to the ideology of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), found itself caught off guard by the move, especially from someone holding dual roles — as Deputy CM and KPCC President.

Faced with mounting criticism, Shivakumar issued a public apology:

“I have no association with the RSS. If anyone was hurt by my remarks, I sincerely apologise. My intention was never to promote their ideology, but to counter the BJP in their own language,” he said at a press conference in Bengaluru.

The apology, however, has not entirely quelled the internal backlash. Veteran Congress leader and MLC B.K. Hariprasad was among the first to express concern. Speaking to reporters, Hariprasad said:

“The RSS anthem glorifies an ideology that stands in contrast to what the Congress has always believed. Our leader reciting it in the Assembly sends the wrong message. He must clarify and apologise.”

Critics from within the party argued that Shivakumar, by reciting the anthem, had inadvertently lent legitimacy to the RSS — a group that has long been viewed as ideologically incompatible with the Congress’s secular and pluralistic values.

Shivakumar responded swiftly, saying,

“I am a loyal Congressman. I was born into this party and will die serving it. My devotion to the Gandhi family is unquestionable. I quoted the RSS anthem only to mock the BJP’s hypocrisy, not to align with their beliefs.”

Still, several Congress leaders questioned the political judgment behind such a gesture, especially at a time when ideological clarity is vital in countering the BJP’s growing influence in Karnataka.

In contrast, BJP leaders seized the moment. Former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai praised Shivakumar’s “honesty,” saying it showed a shift in public and political perception of the RSS:

“Even Congress leaders are now reciting the RSS anthem. It shows they are finally recognizing its patriotic roots.”

This drew strong reactions from Congress leaders, who warned against allowing the BJP to appropriate the narrative. Minister for Minorities Welfare, Zameer Ahmed Khan, said:

“We stand against communal ideology. Any such act, intentional or not, will be opposed. We cannot let the RSS normalize its presence through our platforms.”

Notably, Congress MLA H.D. Ranganath defended Shivakumar, suggesting the song’s content in isolation did not justify outrage:

“The lines pay tribute to the motherland. It does not necessarily mean one is endorsing Hindutva or the RSS’s ideology. Intent matters.”

Yet, the damage may already be done. Political analysts argue that Shivakumar’s attempt at sarcasm has exposed deeper fault lines within the Karnataka Congress — between hardline secularists and a rising section of leaders adopting a softer, culturally rooted political posture.

According to political analyst Dr. S.K. Ramesh,

“The Congress in Karnataka has been trying to retain its traditional base of minorities, Dalits, and backward classes, while also appealing to dominant Hindu groups like Vokkaligas and Lingayats. Shivakumar represents this balancing act. But sometimes these experiments backfire.”

Observers believe Shivakumar’s recent gestures — from attending religious functions at prominent Hindu temples to reciting the RSS anthem — are not isolated acts but part of a broader strategy to project a ‘pan-Hindu’ image that might counterbalance the BJP’s Hindutva narrative without fully subscribing to it.

However, such a strategy comes at a risk. The Congress’s secular vote bank — particularly urban liberals and minority communities — may view this as ideological dilution. The party’s national leadership has so far remained silent on the matter, but insiders suggest that the issue has sparked concern in Delhi.

In the days since the incident, Shivakumar has taken steps to reaffirm his allegiance to the party’s secular principles. He cited his track record — in promoting welfare schemes for all communities, championing backward classes, and defending constitutional values — as proof of his ideological clarity.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, a known advocate of social justice and secularism, has not directly commented but is said to be “uncomfortable” with the development. His camp is believed to be advocating a firmer ideological line ahead of upcoming elections.

The incident, while minor in action, has become a flashpoint for a broader ideological conversation within Karnataka politics. Can Congress afford symbolic gestures toward the Hindu right without losing its core identity? And can leaders like Shivakumar continue walking the tightrope between mass appeal and ideological consistency?

For now, the Deputy CM’s apology may have calmed the immediate storm, but questions about intent, symbolism, and strategy remain.