‘RSS will have a Brahmin CM’: Kumaraswamy barb stirs debate in poll-bound Karnataka

Kumaraswamy also said his outburst was due to the poor way the border dispute pertaining to Belagavi was handled.

Bengaluru, Feb 07: Former Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy kicked up controversy with his comment that the "RSS is planning to make a Brahmin candidate as the Chief Minister in the state".

Though the JD(S) leader sought to clarify his statements by stating that he had no objections to a Brahmin becoming the Chief Minister, his comment targeting Union Minister for Mine, Coal and Parliamentary Affairs Pralhad Joshi, has set off massive debate in poll-bound Karnataka.

BJP leader and Karnataka Revenue Minister R Ashoka strongly condemned JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy's derogatory remarks on Brahmins.

Demanding an apology from the Brahmin community he said, "While It seems that he is speaking out of helplessness and frustration knowing that JD-S will lose in the next election. I demand that he immediately apologize to the Brahmin community."

Karnataka Higher Education Minister Dr Ashwathnarayan CN said, "Giving statements against a person based on caste is condemnable. He should apologise." "Harmony should be there in politics. He can't go to any extent to say whatever he wants," he added.

"I never did caste-based politics. I never asked people their caste whenever they approached me for help. I am not the one who insults people for their caste. The Brahmin community is leading life in a cultured manner," Kumaraswamy clarified days after the statement sparked a controversy drawing criticism.

Explaining further, the JD(S) leader said he had only referred to those who had attacked the Chandramauleshwara temple in Sringeri, a section which assassinated Mahatma Gandhi and Maratha ruler Shivaji.

He said those who were behind these incidents were not from Karnataka but neighbouring state of Maharashtra.

Showing the portrait of Adiguru Shankaracharya, who had established the Sringeri Peeth, which adorns his office, the JD(S) leader said, "You can see whose photographs we have in our office. The same photographs you can find in my bedroom as well."

Two days ago, Kumaraswamy had claimed that RSS was "conspiring" to make Joshi, who is Union Minister for Coal and Mines, the chief minister of Karnataka along with eight deputies after the Assembly polls, and alleged the latter belonged to a category among Brahmins, who lacked culture and divides society.

Coming down heavily on Joshi for criticising JD(S)' dynasty politics and its 'Pancharatna Ratha Yatra', the former Chief Minister had said he (Joshi) belongs to a Brahmin sect to which Maratha Peshwas belonged that had allegedly destroyed Sringeri Math, established by Adi Shankaracharya and desecrated the idol there, and also that killed Gandhi.