UDIPI/GADAG: Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has questioned Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's silence on a controversial statement by KPCC working president Satish Jarkiholi on the meaning of the word Hindu.
During a rally organised by Manava Bandhutva Vedike in Nippani of Belagavi district on Sunday, Satish Jarkiholi triggered a controversy when he stated that the term Hindu has a Persian origin and the original meaning of the word was dirty.
While the Congress has distanced itself from the statement, it enraged the Hindu outfits and the BJP in Karnataka.
Speaking to reporters in Hubbali, Karnataka Congress president D.K. Shivakumar said, “We reject and condemn his statement. It is his personal one. As congress President, I don’t agree with his statement. I do not know which dictionary he searched. We will ask him to give a proper clarification on this.”
The Chief Minister, however, said: “He has made a statement with half knowledge and without the proper information. He is into appeasement politics with an eye on the minority vote. He is under the illusion that such a statement would bring votes,” Bommai told reporters in Udupi.
“Such a statement hurts the belief of the people in India. This is an anti-national act. Jarkiholi remains to stand by his statement and continues to argue. Everybody should condemn this,” he said and sought an immediate apology from Jarkiholi and Congress.
He also questioned Rahul Gandhi's silence on this issue.
“Why are Rahul Gandhi and Siddaramaiah who speak even on small issues silent on this? Is their silence a nod for Jarkiholi’s statement?” he questioned.
Speaking to reports at Gadag, Bommai said that the statement shows the dirt in the mind of Jarkiholi.
“This is a planned statement. Congress is always involved in Bharat Todo (dividing the country) and this statement is also part of its Bharat Todo campaign. Congress was responsible for dividing the country and also Naxalism,” Bommai alleged.
