Don't ask what Cong gave us it gave us strength to speak Shivakumar to party men

Bengaluru, Jul 11 (PTI) Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Friday said what the Congress has given its leaders and members is less important that the strength it has given them to speak.

Speaking at a party event to welcome new leaders into the Congress fold, Shivakumar turned philosophical as he reflected on the party's history.

Recalling Gandhi-Nehru family's sacrifice for this country, he said, "The strength of Congress is the strength of the country. This is all history. Is it possible to erase India’s history?"

“What Congress has given me is not important and don’t ask questions like it did not make me a member, chairman, minister, chief minister, central minister or governor. What is significant is that it has given us strength to speak,” said Shivakumar, the Congress party state president.


He claimed that no other party can offer the voice and position, which Congress the has given its members.


The Deputy CM’s statement came a day after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah asserted that he would complete his five years’ term, putting to rest speculations that Shivakumar would succeed him after November as per the rumoured power sharing agreement.


Noting that the Congress gave the country its Constitution, Shivakumar said the entire world appreciates the Indian constitution and its democracy.

“Some people are misusing it (democracy) but that is all a temporary phase. Congress has struggled and served people for 60 to 70 years and gave us independence. Gandhiji, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi sacrificed their lives for the unity and integrity of this nation. Nehru family sacrificed their entire property for Congress party,” he underlined.


Shivakumar also sought to know whether it was not possible for Rahul Gandhi to become the Prime Minister of the country when the UPA was in power.

“Sonia Gandhi was invited by the then President of India to form the government but she said she did not want power. The Christian lady embraced our Constitution and the country and settled in India, made a Sikh economist Prime Minister for 10 years. No other country and political party have such history, except for Congress,” he said.


Taking a dig at opposition BJP in Karnataka for its pro-Hindu stand, Shivakumar said everyone in the room including him are Hindus.

“We too worship Shiva, Ganesha and Rama but we also take along others saying that we all are one. The BJP speaks only about Hindus and no one else, whereas our party is rooted in humanity,” the Congress state chief said.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)