Amid criticism from within the party over his participation in Maha Shvratri celebrations at Sadhguru's Isha Yoga Centre in Coimbatore, Congress leader and Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar asserted that he was a born Hindu and will die as one.
Shivakumar's assertion came after All India Congress Committee (AICC) secretary P.V. Mohan took exception to his participation at the event, saying Sadhguru had mocked party leader Rahul Gandhi and aligned with RSS' narratives.
When reporters asked about the controversy during a press conference on Thursday, Shivakumar asserted his faith in Hinduism.
"I am a Hindu. I am a born Hindu and I will die as a Hindu but I love and respect all religions.
"Our Congress president's name is Mallikarjun Kharge. Who is Mallikarjuna? It's Shiva only. Should he change his name?," he further asked.
Grateful to Sadhguru Shri Jaggi Vasudev for inviting me to the Maha Shivratri celebrations at Isha Yoga Center, Coimbatore. Excited to be part of this grand spiritual gathering and looking forward to experiencing the divine energy of the night! pic.twitter.com/6XEcoMqr8D
— DK Shivakumar (@DKShivakumar) February 25, 2025
The KPCC president underlined his respect for other belief systems and claimed that he had learnt about Sikhism while in jail. He also said he visits Jain monasteries, Dargah and churches where the priests of all three communities bless him.
Specifically addressing the controversy surrounding his presence at Isha Centre, Shivakumar termed Sadhguru as a great man.
"Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev of Isha Foundation came and invited me (for Shivaratri celebrations). He is from Mysuru. He is a great man and I admire his knowledge and stature but there are many who criticise him," he said.
Shivakumar had earlier faced flak for taking a holy dip in the Ganga during the Mahakumbh, though Congress chief Kharge had questioned the significance of the Mela.
Commenting on this, Shivakumar said: "My experience regarding Mahakumbh was very good. I appreciated the way they organised it. It is not a small job. There might be some problems here and there. Trains may have caused problems. I don't like to find faults. It is very satisfactory."
