NEW DELHI: Facing heat from within his party for attending Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev’s Mahashivaratri event, Karnataka deputy CM DK Shivakumar on Thursday said he attended the celebrations as it was his personal belief.
Shivakumar said he didn’t want the BJP or anyone to welcome it, adding that he “cannot reply to everyone who posts something on social media”.
“I attended the Maha Shivarathri celebrations at Isha Foundation. It is my personal belief. I can’t reply to everyone who posts something on social media. I don’t want the BJP or anyone to welcome it. I don’t want the media to discuss this either. This is purely my personal belief. Sadguru is from Mysuru, and he personally invited me for the event,” Shivakumar told news agency ANI on Thursday.
The Karnataka Congress chief’s remark came a day after All India Congress Committee (AICC) secretary PV Mohan expressed his disapproval on X over Shivakumar’s visit to the Isha Foundation.
He said that his action “damages the core” of the party.
The Congress leader accepted the invitation from Sadhguru to participate in the grand Mahashiratri celebrations at the Isha Yoga Center in Coimbatore along with Union home minister Amit Shah.
Shivakumar also said that he believed in his faith, and any opposition by people didn’t deter him.
“I often go to Nonavinakere mutt, and people ask me why I go there so often but not to my community mutt. I go where my faith is. I go where I feel reassured,” he said.
“Among the voters in my constituency, the majority are scheduled castes and tribes. As much as 99 per cent of the Brahmins in my constituency vote for me. Can we say all Brahmins vote for the BJP? I don’t politics of caste and religion, but I do politics of principle,” he added.
Shivakumar has, however, refuted speculations of an internal rift within Congress. Shivakumar said that his visit does not mean he is coming close to the Bharatiya Janata Party.
“I have seen in some of the media and social media, and my friends are calling and asking me whether I am coming close to the BJP. I am a born Congressman, my visit to Maha Kumbh is my belief and I respect all religions. Such speculations do not come even close to me; I don’t take BJP’s allegations seriously,” Shivakumar said.
“I have already been criticised for my visit to Isha Foundation, later today. I have been invited by Sadhguru, so I will be going there. I am a born Hindu who loves all religions, and it does not mean that I am coming close to the BJP. I have not met Amit Shah at all,” he added.
