DK Shivakumar’s RSS Anthem Sparks Political Firestorm
DK Shivakumar’s RSS Anthem Shocks Congress
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar ignited a political controversy on Thursday by singing the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) anthem, Namaste Sada Vatsale Matrubhume, during a Karnataka Assembly session, prompting sharp reactions from both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and his own Congress party. The 73-second viral video of the incident, captured during a heated debate, has fueled debates about political loyalties and ideological divides in the state.
The episode unfolded during a discussion on the June 4, 2025, stampede outside Bengaluru’s Chinnaswamy Stadium, which killed 11 people following Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s historic Indian Premier League victory. Responding to BJP’s Leader of Opposition R. Ashoka, who taunted Shivakumar about his past association with the RSS, including wearing its former khaki shorts uniform, Shivakumar sang the anthem in a seemingly lighthearted manner. Ashoka’s jibe referenced a 2018 statement where Shivakumar admitted to attending RSS shakhas during his school days, a revelation that resurfaced to haunt him.
The BJP seized the moment, with National Spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari posting on X, “DK Shivakumar seen singing the RSS anthem in the Karnataka assembly. Rahul Gandhi & close aides of Gandhi Vadra family straight into ICU/Coma mode now.” Bhandari mocked Congress’s internal dynamics, claiming, “No one in Congress - Tharoor to DK Shivakumar takes Rahul seriously!” He linked the incident to Congress’s earlier criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s praise for the RSS during his Independence Day speech, where Modi lauded the organization’s 100-year contribution as the “world’s largest NGO.”
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Shivakumar, a prominent Congress leader and Bengaluru’s in-charge minister, quickly clarified his stance, asserting, “I am a born Congressman. As a leader, I should know my opponents and friends. I have studied about them. There is no question of joining hands with the BJP. I will lead the Congress.” He emphasized his lifelong allegiance to Congress, distancing himself from any ideological shift despite his familiarity with the RSS anthem.
The controversy stems from a broader context of political sparring. Shivakumar had previously criticized the RSS, calling it a “newly born institution” with “no history” compared to Congress, particularly after Modi’s August 15 speech. The BJP’s taunts were also tied to the stampede, with Ashoka blaming the Congress government’s mismanagement. Shivakumar countered by defending his role in the IPL celebrations, noting his personal ties to the Karnataka State Cricket Association and his actions in welcoming the team, while dismissing the tragedy as an “unfortunate accident.”
The incident has amplified political tensions in Karnataka, with social media posts reflecting polarized sentiments. One X user remarked, “DK Shivakumar singing the RSS anthem is a straight-up ideological earthquake for Congress,” while another suggested it could signal internal rifts, stating, “Rahul Gandhi dreams of banning RSS, but his own leader is singing their song!” The episode has also drawn attention to Shivakumar’s past, including his 2018 admission of RSS involvement during his youth, which he framed as part of understanding political adversaries.
As Karnataka gears up for future electoral battles, this incident underscores the complex interplay of ideology and politics, with Shivakumar’s actions likely to be leveraged by both supporters and critics in the ongoing Congress-BJP rivalry.
