Did RSS song row put Shivakumar on backfoot? Congress leader says he’s ready to apologise

In the wake of criticism from within the party for crooning a prayer song of the Rashtriya Swyam Sevak Sangh (RSS) in the state assembly, Karnataka Congress president and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar said on Tuesday that he was ready to apologise.

“As a loyal Congressman I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings... If you want an apology, yes. For all the Congressmen and many political party friends of INDIA bloc they may be hurt,” Shivakumar said, while talking to reporters in Bengaluru.

The Congress leader reaffirmed his loyalty to the Gandhi family and said he had only made a "passing reference" in the assembly.

"My loyalty to the Congress party and Gandhi family cannot be questioned by anyone. I'm a born Congressman, I will die as a Congressman,” he further said.

The incident took place on August 21 when Shivakumar surprised many by reciting a couple of lines from the RSS prayer song ‘Namaste Sada Vatsale’ during a debate on the Chinnaswamy stadium stampede.

His act, while being hailed by the BJP members, drew criticism from within the party. Senior Congress leader B.K. Hariprasad even questioned if Shivakumar was trying to impress someone.

"We have no objection to Shivakumar reciting the prayer as the Deputy CM because a government belongs to all, including the RSS. If he said it as Congress president, he'll have to apologise," Hariprasad said.

Meanwhile, as the controversy raged, another Congress MLA H.D. Ranganath said there was nothing wrong in singing the RSS song.

"I read its meaning. It says we should salute the land where we are born. I see nothing wrong in that. Ours is a secular party, and we must accept good things from others,” he said.