Shivakumar’s participation in Shivaratri event continues to be a point of debate

K.N. Rajanna
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The speculation around Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar’s visit to Isha Yoga Centre in Tamil Nadu for Mahashivaratri celebrations, alongside Union Home Minister Amit Shah, continued to roil on Saturday, with Congress leaders divided over the issue.

Keeping up his criticism, Cooperative Minister K.N. Rajanna questioned the justification for Mr. Shivakumar sharing the stage with those who have been critical of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. He pointed out that Jaggi Vasudev, the founder of Isha Foundation, had once said he did not know who Rahul Gandhi was. “Let him answer how justified it is to share the stage with such people,” Mr. Rajanna said in Hassan.

‘Isn’t he Hindu?’

However, Industries Minister M.B. Patil defended Mr. Shivakumar’s visit to Coimbatore, stating that he had not violated the party policy. “Isn’t Shivakumar a Hindu? What is wrong in attending Shivaratri celebrations?” Mr. Patil asked in Vijayapura. Stressing that Mr. Shivakumar is a diehard Congressman, he dismissed as “media creation” all the speculations over his visit to Coimbatore.

Taking a more ambivalent stand, Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi said the party high command should take note of the issue, which has now escalated beyond Karnataka. “People in Delhi should take note of it as we don’t know what is right and what is wrong,” he told reporters in Bengaluru.

Meanwhile, Mr. Shivakumar’s brother and former MP D.K. Suresh said the Deputy Chief Minister had not done anything clandestinely and kept the party informed. “Whenever Mr. Shivakumar met Prime Minister Narendra Modi he informed the party high command. He had even informed the high command about attending Isha Foundation’s Shivaratri event,” Mr. Suresh told reporters, adding that he and his family were always great believers in Lord Shiva.

‘Now is not the time’

On his brother’s Chief Ministerial dreams, Mr. Suresh said, “Right now Siddaramaiah is the Chief Minister and the post is not vacant. There is no point in discussing it now. What happens at a later time cannot be predicted.”

The Opposition BJP, meanwhile, continued to mock the confusion within the Congress over the issue and claimed it was a sign of Mr. Shivakumar drifting away from the party. Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly R. Ashok dared the party to expel Mr. Shivakumar over his “pro-Hindutva” stand.