Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India]: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Monday criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for allegedly twisting his remarks regarding the Constitution, asserting that he is consulting legal experts on the matter.
“I don’t want to comment much on it. There is no hide and seek in this issue. On quota, there are several judgments which have come, and after every judgment, amendments have been made to the Constitution; there is nothing else. So they (BJP) are trying to twist it. They don’t have any issues. I am happy that Jairam Ramesh has moved privilege motion. I am also consulting legal experts,” Shivakumar told media.
BJP Accuses Shivakumar of Advocating Constitutional Change
The controversy erupted after Shivakumar’s remarks on a private news channel, which the BJP claimed indicated a call for changes to the Constitution. However, speaking to reporters at his residence, he denied the allegations, stating, “I never stated we would change the Constitution. The BJP is carrying out propaganda. I will fight it legally.”
Shivakumar accused the BJP of deliberately misrepresenting his statement, saying, “I have been in public life for 36 years and have basic common sense. But the BJP is misleading people. My name is being dragged into BJP’s disinformation campaign.”
He clarified his position, explaining, “All I said was that there is a precedent for changing the Constitution based on the Court’s orders. I have never said we will change the Constitution. The Congress is a national party that brought the Constitution in the first place. We understand its importance better than others.”
BJP Leaders Demand Resignation
The issue created a stir in Parliament, with BJP leaders in both the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha demanding action against Shivakumar. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju sought clarification from Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge regarding the party’s stand on reservation for Muslims, calling Shivakumar’s remarks “extremely serious.”
Union Health Minister JP Nadda, who is also the Leader of the House, accused Congress of “trying to destroy the Constitution.” He said, “Dr. B.R. Ambedkar had himself said that reservation would not be done on the basis of religion. But in Karnataka, there is a talk of giving 4 percent reservation in contracts.”
Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar called for authentication of the remarks, stating, “The statement to which reference has been made by the Parliamentary Affairs Minister, that a functionary of the political party has made a statement… please authenticate and put it on the table of the House.”
Rijiju went further, challenging Congress to take immediate action, saying, “If you have guts, take the resignation of the Deputy CM today itself.”
Shivakumar Plans Legal Action Against BJP’s “Propaganda”
Responding to BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya’s social media posts on the issue, Shivakumar accused the party of “spreading misinformation and dragging Congress into cheap politics.” He stated, “The BJP has always tried to take the country down the wrong path. Let them show proof of me saying the Constitution needs to be changed. This is cheap politics from the BJP.”
He further warned of legal action, saying, “I will take legal action against those twisting my statements. It would be difficult if these statements were made within the House, but I will surely pursue legal action if they were made outside Parliament.”
Asked if the media had misrepresented his statement, Shivakumar defended the press, stating, “There is nothing wrong with the media’s reporting. The BJP has twisted my statements and is unnecessarily dragging my name into this.”
The heated debate led to disruptions in both the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha, resulting in adjournments.