• Source:JND
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The RSS March row in Karnataka was yet to die down, and state CM Siddaramaiah stoked fresh controversy on Sunday by suggesting people should stay away from 'Sanatanis.'

After inaugurating the silver jubilee celebrations of Mysore University and dedicating the new Jnana Darshana building, the Karnataka CM said, "Keep your company right. Associate with those who stand for society, not with those who oppose social change or with 'sanatanis'".

To prove his point, Siddaramaiah raked up the shoe-hurling at Chief Justice of India BR Gavai. "The fact that a 'sanatani' threw a shoe at the Chief Justice of India shows 'sanatanis' and orthodox elements still exist in society. This act should be condemned not just by Dalits but by everyone," he said.

He took on the RashtriyaSwayamsewak Sangh (RSS), saying that they had opposed BR Ambedkar and the Constitution he framed.

ALSO READ: Karnataka HC Allows RSS To Hold Chittapur March On November 2 After Siddaramaiah Govt's Denial

"Who opposed this Constitution? Manuvadis opposed it. Golwalkar opposed it. Savarkar opposed it. Even now they are opposing it. Shouldn't we be alert of them? This should be conveyed to society and students. We should say the truth," he said.

The remarks came in the wake of a face-off between the Congress government and the BJP-RSS over the Sangh's 'pathsanchalan' (March) in Kalburgi's Chittapur.

The government prohibited the march after state minister Priyank Kharge, the MLA from Chittapur, wrote to the CM to ban all activities of the organisation in the government events.

He also demanded action against government officials who attend the events of the RSS. The government's decision not to allow the march suffered a major setback after the Karnataka High Court overruled it, allowing the RSS to hold the pathsanchalan.

ALSO READ: Karnataka: CM Siddaramaiah Advises People To Avoid Company Of 'Sanatanis', Remain Cautious Of RSS

Reacting to Siddaramaiah's remarks, RSS leader Rajiv Tuli said the Congress's enmity towards the RSS is not new. He recalled the 1948 incident when former PM Jawaharlal Nehru said 'crush the RSS' He accused the Congress of being against 'Indianness, nationalism, and Hindutva'.

VHP leader Vindo Bansal took a jibe at Siddaramaiah saying, "A Chief Minister in Karnataka, who has 'Ram' in his parents' names, who has 'Parvati' in the name of his wife and who himself is called Siddaramaiah tells people to avoid the company of sanatanis."

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