Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru
Bengaluru, May 1: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday took a firm stance on national security, asserting that if war with Pakistan becomes inevitable due to terrorism, then India must be prepared to fight citing historical precedent and national interest.
“Terrorism must be eradicated at its root, and the Central government must ensure the safety of all citizens. If war against Pakistan becomes inevitable, it must be fought,” said Siddaramaiah. He pointed to the 1971 war under former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, noting, “India defeated Pakistan, and nearly 90,000 of their soldiers surrendered. That led to the creation of Bangladesh.”
Siddaramaiah’s strong remarks came shortly after he had earlier stated that war was not necessary in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives. However, his Wednesday statement suggested a harder tone in response to persistent threats.
When asked about the emotional fallout of terror attacks and whether diplomatic failures were leading to the separation of families, the Chief Minister stated that the Karnataka government supports the Centre’s stance on national security.
In a separate development, Siddaramaiah also weighed in on the recent controversy surrounding a social media post referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as ‘gayab’ (missing). Without naming anyone directly, he said, “While freedom of expression exists, defaming others must be avoided, whether it concerns the Prime Minister or anyone else.”
Addressing another key political issue, the chief minister reiterated the Congress party's commitment to conducting a social, economic, and caste-based census a longstanding demand for data-driven social justice.
He clarified that while the Centre has mentioned conducting a caste census alongside the general census, the specifics remain unclear. “A socio-economic survey is essential to ensure true social justice,” he said, adding that the socio-economic and educational survey report has been submitted to the Cabinet. Ministers have been asked to share written feedback, after which a follow-up Cabinet meeting will be held for a decision.
The chief minister’s remarks come amid ongoing national debates over caste data, terror response strategies, and online political discourse.