Congress, BJP spar in Karnataka Assembly after CM Siddaramaiah attacks RSS

Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s remarks in the Assembly linking the RSS and the state's law-and-order situation pushed the House into a din on Monday.

While Siddaramaiah reiterated his secular credentials through a pointed jibe at the RSS – the BJP’s ideological parent – BJP leaders displayed their Hindutva motif with equal vehemence. After the House adjourned twice over the issue, both sides agreed for a truce, with Speaker U T Khader informing that all comments that led to the furore would be expunged.

The commotion started when Siddaramaiah, during his reply to the debate on the motion of thanks on the Governor's address, contested the BJP’s claim that the law-and-order situation in Karnataka had deteriorated after the Congress came to power.

"In 2022, there were 1,365 murder cases. In 2024, during our regime, it came down to 1,209. While there were 2,828 attempts to murder in 2022, it reduced to 2,809 during our time. Dacoity cases have come down from 215 to 154. That doesn’t mean I am fully satisfied. Ideally, there should be no crimes,” the chief minister said.

At this point, he referred to the RSS and Bajrang Dal, infuriating the BJP legislators who urged Acting Speaker KM Shivalinge Gowda to expunge the comments.

Brandishing his loyalty to the RSS, the Leader of Opposition, R Ashoka, said: "I am from the RSS, so are the others here. The country’s PM and HM are from the RSS. We cannot tolerate such comments from those who have come here recently."

Refusing to cede ground, Siddaramaiah reminded Ashoka that he was senior to the latter and had entered the Vidhana Soudha as an MLA 42 years ago.

He was joined by RDPR Minister Priyank Kharge who wondered whether BJP leaders sent their kids to the RSS shakhas (camps).

With BJP leaders raising slogans against the Congress and accusing the ruling party of being "anti-national", the Acting Speaker adjourned the House. The BJP members also raised slogans linking Congress leaders with Pakistan.

On resumption of proceedings, BJP MLAs took exception to their Congress counterparts bringing the national flag to the Assembly and "disrespecting" it, while Congress MLAs accused a BJP legislator of violating rules by recording videos on his mobile phone.

While Gowda insisted that the chief minister's comments could not be expunged, the BJP refused to budge.

After the second adjournment, the two sides agreed for a truce, with Khader telling the House that all comments that led to the din would be expunged.