Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, on Wednesday, clarified that he always promoted rational thinking, social justice and equality, and opposed the Karma theory.
Speaking in the Karnataka Assembly while replying to the discussion on the budget he had presented on March 6, the chief minister said he consumes meat on festivals like Ugadi and Shivratri.
When Leader of Opposition R Ashoka pointed out to the chief minister that he presented the budget, keeping in mind the 'Rahu Kaala', an inauspicious time, Siddaramaiah said some people had advised him to present the budget before 'Rahu Kaala'. "I don't believe in 'Rahu Kaala' or 'Gulika Kaala', but being a democratic person, I respected their views and nothing else".
He also said that in the past, he had presented budgets during 'Rahu Kaala' and 'Gulika Kaala'.
Ashoka remarked that the situation earlier was different from now, adding that Siddaramaiah should consider auspicious and inauspicious muhurthas while presenting the next Budget.
Rejecting the comment, Siddaramaiah said, “I don’t subscribe to restrictions linked to Rahu Kaal, Gulika Kaal, Yamaganda Kaal or even solar eclipses. People avoid non-vegetarian food during festivals, but I ate mutton on Shivaratri; there is nothing wrong with it. All days are the same.”
He added that while he believes in god, he sees the divine as omnipresent and not limited to temples.
