Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Oct 8: "I am not opposed to any religion. However, I have differences of opinion with religions which do not treat everyone equally and do not respect human beings," clarified former chief minster of Karnataka, Siddaramaiah.

He was speaking after getting felicitated at a programme organized by Okalipuram Residents Welfare Association here on Sunday October 7.

He said that his government had implemented different programmes which were equally beneficial to all the religions. "Just because I organized Tipu Sultan birth anniversary, BJP leaders branded me as anti-Hindu. Tipu was not anti-Hindu. He had given high status to his Diwan Poornayya and had pawned his children for the sake of the state. Our government also celebrated several other leaders like Vishwakarma, Kittur queen Chennamma, and others. Was this too anti-Hindu?" he questioned. He said he and his family believe in gods and visit temples.

In his address earlier at the function, Santosh Guruji, who graced the occasion, had said that he was opposed to Siddaramaiah on the issue of Tipu Jayanti. Referring to this remark, Siddaramaiah wanted to know what made him to think so, duly claiming that Tipu had high respect for Hinduism and Hindus.

Siddaramaiah also said that his party was defeated because of malicious propaganda by BJP. He felt that Congress would have emerged victorious if the people had voted it for keeping its word. He felt votes were cast on the basis of religion and castes.

Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president, Dinesh Gundu Rao, former chairman of legislative council, Veeranna Mattikatti, president of the association, Mahadeva Nayak, and others were present.