Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday urged people to stay away from “sanatanis” and remain cautious of the RSS and Sangh Parivar, accusing them of opposing B R Ambedkar and the Constitution. Speaking at the silver jubilee celebration of Mysore University and the inauguration of the Jnana Darshana building, he said that people should “keep their company right” and stand with those who support social change.
“Keep your company right. Associate with those who stand for society, not with those who oppose social change or with sanatanis,” Siddaramaiah said.
Referring to a recent incident in which a shoe was hurled at Chief Justice of India B R Gavai, the chief minister said, “The fact that a ‘sanatani’ threw a shoe at the chief justice shows that orthodox and regressive elements still exist in our society. This act should be condemned not just by Dalits but by everyone. Only then can we say society is truly changing.”
Siddaramaiah accused the RSS and Sangh Parivar of spreading misinformation about Ambedkar and said they had always opposed his ideas. “They are spreading lies that the Congress defeated Ambedkar in the elections. But Ambedkar himself wrote that ‘Savarkar and Dange defeated me.’ Such truths must be shared to expose the falsehoods of the Sangh Parivar,” he said.
Praising Ambedkar’s contribution, Siddaramaiah said, “Ambedkar acquired knowledge to understand society and used it to transform it. He studied all the constitutions of the world and gave India the best one suited for our people.” He added that he believes in the teachings of Buddha, Basava, and Ambedkar. “I hope rationality and scientific thinking will grow. Don’t study science and still follow blind beliefs,” he said.
He also mentioned that the Ambedkar School of Economics was founded to inspire students to follow Ambedkar’s path. “Ambedkar is matchless. Another Ambedkar will never be born, but everyone should walk in his footsteps,” he said.
Praising Mysore University’s Ambedkar Study Centre on completing 25 years and inaugurating the ‘Vishwa Jnani Ambedkar Sabha Bhavana,’ Siddaramaiah said, “Unequal opportunities have created inequality. Education is not anyone’s property. People just need opportunities — once given, they can become scholars and intellectuals.”
