Bengaluru, Sep 13: Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Sunday accused the BJP of using Hindutva for political purposes and alleged that money and materials donated for the Ram Temple were misused, while attacking the Centre's Ujjwala scheme over the rise in LPG prices.
Speaking at the Congress office here during an event where some former BJP leaders joined the party, Shivakumar said Congress believed in serving people irrespective of their caste or religion.
“Some people do this theatrically in the name of religion,” he said.
“They took the money meant for Rama and misappropriated it. You sent bricks from here, you sent money, and they misused it. We will not do that.”
Shivakumar said Congress' welfare schemes were meant for people across communities and accused the BJP of unnecessarily criticising the party's five guarantees.
“Five guarantees? The BJP people are the ones who criticise them. They are the ones who say they are impossible. What, are only Congress people getting the benefit of the five guarantees?” he asked.
He said the Congress government was providing free electricity to 1.64 crore families, Gruha Lakshmi assistance to 1.21 crore women and Anna Bhagya benefits to 4.40 crore people.
Attacking the Ujjwala scheme, Shivakumar said the BJP-led government had projected it as a measure to reduce the burden on poor women but LPG prices had subsequently risen.
“They brought the Ujjwala scheme and said they would reduce the burden. They put the Prime Minister's photographs everywhere, including at petrol pumps. What happened? The price went from Rs 400 to Rs 1,200,” he said.
Shivakumar also claimed that several states had subsequently adopted welfare measures similar to those introduced by Congress governments in Karnataka.
“Now they copied us in Maharashtra, copied us in Madhya Pradesh, in Rajasthan, in Bihar, and now Trump is copying us,” he said, referring to US President Donald Trump.
“This is the strength of the Congress party. The entire world is watching our Constitution today,” he added.
The Chief Minister said Congress' approach was based on humanity and not religious or caste divisions.
“We are Hindus, Christians, Muslims, Sikhs, Vokkaligas, Lingayats, Kurubas, Brahmins and others. We are all one. That is the difference between them and us,” he said.
“Whatever the religion, the principle is one; whatever the names, the God is one; whatever the form of worship, devotion is one; whatever the actions, dedication is one; one God, many names,” he added.
Shivakumar also hit out at Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy over his remarks that he would reveal a subject capable of creating “turmoil” in the country after returning to Karnataka.
Kumaraswamy had told reporters in Delhi that he would return to the state after 10 days and disclose what was happening in Karnataka, alleging that those in power would “do anything to capture power” and keep anyone they wanted with them.
Responding to him, Shivakumar said Kumaraswamy should use his position as a Union minister to work for Karnataka instead of making repeated statements about a “bomb” from Delhi.
“Every day there is a statement, every day he says he will drop a bomb. You (Kumaraswamy) have got this big ministerial position. Do something for Karnataka. Build a big factory that can provide jobs to 50,000 people,” he said.
“He says a bomb is going to fall from Delhi, the country is going to be thrown into chaos. It has already become chaotic, hasn't it?” Shivakumar said.
His remarks also referred to the recent controversy over electronic devices allegedly being found in the prison cell of former JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna, who is serving a life sentence following his conviction in a rape case.
“Don't tell me about the pen drive news. Let him (Kumaraswamy) do whatever he want. Let him even make news about the Central Jail. Leave that to him,” Shivakumar said.
“I have not spoken about that news (Prajwal case) even for a single day. Think about what has happened to the families of those people (victims of Prajwal Revanna),” he added.
Prajwal, the grandson of former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, is serving life imprisonment in a rape case.
Shivakumar said Congress workers were the party's “pillars of strength” and expressed confidence that a similar political wave that brought the party to power in the state would return in the 2028 Assembly elections.
“We have the confidence that a similar wave will be created again in 2028 general assembly election through a combination of our programmes and our organisation,” he said.
