Mysuru: Yatindra Siddaramaiah defends his 'Hindu Rashtra' statement

Mysuru: Dr. Yatindra Siddaramaiah stood by his earlier statement regarding the dangers of India becoming a ‘Hindu Rashtra’. “No one who agrees with Ambedkar’s principles will say that my statement is wrong. I have only reiterated what Ambedkar had said,” he said.

“Secularism is crucial,” he emphasized, cautioning against a nation centered around any religion, citing the examples of countries like Pakistan to illustrate potential dangers. He reiterated that his opinion remains unchanged. “Our conuntry should not be based on any religion. It is always dangerous. Everyone knows what is the condition of Pakistan and some countries that are a religion-based State. This is why I said it is dangerous to become a Hindu nation. I still stand by my word. There is no mistake in what I said,” Yatindra said.

Regarding the role of religion, Dr. Yatindra stressed that government should not involve itself in matters of religion. “There are other systems for working on the issue of religion, and therefore,  should not be the work of the government,” he added.

He criticized the BJP, accusing them of prioritizing religious issues over developmental concerns, and accused them of political maneuvering in the name of religion. The BJP is diverting attention from real problems by prioritizing religious issues, he added.

Responding to inquiries about contesting in the Lok Sabha election from Mysuru, he clarified that he has not sought a ticket and will abide by the party’s decision. His focus remains on supporting the party’s chosen candidates.

Dr. Yatindra Siddaramaiah also addressed Pratapa Simha’s accusations of Siddaramaiah targetting him. Yatindra said his father has never engaged in targeted politics, despite facing political injustices. He criticized accusations against Siddaramiah, attributing them to covering up mistakes rather than genuine concerns.