Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has triggered a political row with his remarks on religious conversions, stating that “if there was equality in our Hindu community, then why would anyone convert?”
He added, “If there was equality, why did untouchability come into existence? Did we create untouchability? There can be inequalities in Islam, Christianity, or any religion. Neither we nor the BJP asked anyone to convert, but people do convert, and it is their right.”
R Ashoka, the Bharatiya Janata Party Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly, joined the criticism, targeting the Chief Minister for focusing on Hinduism. “When it comes to equality, you always target Hinduism, don’t you, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah? Do you have the courage to question Muslims on equality?” he asked.
Ashoka questioned various practices in Islam, citing the Pahalgam terror attack and restrictions on women in mosques, opposition to the ban on triple talaq, and Quranic references to non-Muslims.
“Yes, the caste system is a curse within Hindu society; this is a fact. But many great reformers have been born to correct and transform Hindu society over time. The Hindu community has the strength to self-correct and change. From Basavanna to Swami Vivekananda, from Dr BR Ambedkar to the present, countless reformers have worked, and continue to work, towards improving Hindu society. But in Islam, the deep-rooted fundamentalism and jihadi mindset have never been questioned or corrected. Even if reformers have emerged, Muslims have never accepted such change,” Ashoka said.
He further argued that Muslims have historically looked up to figures like Aurangzeb and Tipu Sultan, rather than reformers such as Saint Shishunala Sharif or Dr Abdul Kalam. Ashoka also urged the Chief Minister to set aside what he described as a leftist perspective that demeans Sanatana Dharma and Hindus, and instead speak as a responsible leader.
Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, Chalavadi Narayanswamy, criticised Siddaramaiah, accusing him of attempting to divide people based on caste and religion. “Now the caste survey has options such as Dalit Christian, Lingayat Christian, Vokkaliga Christian. This is nonsense, and he has done this to please Sonia Gandhi,” he said.
Former Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai also weighed in, stating that “equality doesn’t come from religion, but from love, affection, and honour. No religion can truly bring equality.” He criticised the survey, saying that conducting a census is unconstitutional, adding, “Only the Government of India has that authority. They can do surveys, but not a census.”
Bommai further argued that Siddaramaiah’s initiative was politically motivated. “If a column is added for converted Christians, then there should also be columns for converted Hindus and Muslims. It is illegal to add a ‘conversion’ column. There already exists an ‘Others’ column which even includes ‘Nastik’ (atheists),” he said.
Also read: Siddaramaiah pegs fresh caste census cost at ₹420 cr
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