Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy and Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and state Congress chief D K Shivakumar, the two contenders for the mantle of the leadership of the dominant Vokkaliga community, locked horns over the weekend on religious and caste leaders espousing the causes of politicians.
While the Union minister said Saturday that religious leaders must stay out of politics, Shivakumar questioned his moral standing in making the statement Sunday.
The Congress leader suggested that Kumaraswamy’s father, H D Deve Gowda, could not have become the CM of Karnataka in 1994 without the blessings of the top Vokkaliga seer Nirmalananda Swami.
‘Caste, religion shouldn’t be in conflict’
The day before, the Union minister referred to a recent call by Nirmalananda Swami for Shivakumar to be made Karnataka’s chief minister during a standoff with Siddaramaiah over the leadership issue. The call by the Vokkaliga seer drew a response from that of the Kuruba community, to which the CM belongs, who batted for Siddaramaiah.
“Politicians are engaged in politics, but religious leaders should stop expressing their opinions in favour of someone,” Kumaraswamy said on the sidelines of an NDA coordination committee meeting ahead of the December 8 Karnataka Assembly session.
“I was the chief minister twice. When I lost power, I did not ask for help from any religious leaders. The work of politicians is different, the work of Swamijis is different,” Kumaraswamy said.
He said that misusing religion and talking about caste and religion is not commendable.
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“There should be no room for caste conflict in society. No one should be the cause of it. This is all I appeal to the religious leaders. Peace and tranquillity in society are important. Caste and religion should not be in conflict. That is not good for the state. Caste and religion should not be dragged into the Congress party’s internal problems,” Kumaraswamy said.
Saying that “caste politics is now being played out on a large scale in the state,” Janata Dal (Secular) president said, “This will not be a loss to those who do politics, but it will be a big loss to the state. It has led to conflict between communities in the state. There is no need for this. This is not an embarrassment for the Congress party. It is an embarrassment for the people of Karnataka”.
“People are being pitted against each other by unnecessarily dragging caste and religion. This should not happen. The statements of Swamijis from Vokkaliga, Kuruba and other communities are their personal opinions,” he said.
‘Seers speak on certain occasions’
Shivakumar responded to the Union minister with a sarcastic remark that “Kumaraswamy is a big leader, he does not need any support”, and that seers have spoken in his favour out of affection.
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“He has never used the Vokkaliga community, Sangha, and seers,” the Karnataka deputy chief minister said.
“Kumaranna doesn’t even know how the Vokkaliga mutt came into existence. Who built it? Would Deve Gowda have become the CM if not for the Vokkaliga seers? Did the seers keep quiet when injustice was meted out to Sadananda Gowda? The seers speak on certain occasions; there is nothing wrong with it,” Shivakumar said.
“Did I ask for support? I haven’t asked anyone for support. If they support you out of affection, can you say no? Though I was born in a particular community, I like and respect all communities. Many other seers, including Balehonnur seer and Sri Saila seer, have supported me. Jain seers have blessed me, too. I got support when I went to Dharmasthala, too. We can’t say it is wrong,” Shivakumar said.