Temple priest confronts HD Kumaraswamy over his "anti Brahmin" remarks
Gokarna (KTK), Feb 8: Days after his controversial statement that Union Minister Pralhad Joshi belonged to a sect of Brahmins, which lacks culture and divides society, a temple priest here on Wednesday confronted JD(S) leader H D Kumarswamy, expressing displeasure over his remarks, and urged him to clarify.
Akhila Karnataka Brahmana Mahasabha has condemned Kumaraswamy's "anti Brahmin" statements and there are reports about protests condemning the JD(S) leaders from various parts of the state.
Facing criticism from the community, political leaders, especially the BJP, and various sections, the former Chief Minister clarified that his statement was misconstrued, and it was not at all directed towards Brahmins.
"Your anti Brahmin statement has very much hurt us.....please don't be upset because I'm saying this. We have regards for your family....I have earlier spoken to Deve Gowda (former PM and Kumaraswamy's father) here and felicitated him, later he went on to become Chief Minister, Prime Minister and you too became the Chief Minister," the priest told Kumaraswamy, who visited the temple.
He said, "We are happy about your administration, but your recent comments have hurt us, I urge you to give a clarification to it here itself and go."
Kumaraswamy told the priest that he wants to make it clear that he is not anti Brahmin, and did not speak about the Brahmin community. and he was referring to BJP and Peshwas. "We have great respect for the Brahmin community", he said.
Noting that his comments have been misrepresented, he said, "We always respect the Brahmins who have the culture of saying 'Sarve jana sukhino bhavantu', and he was referring to those who had destroyed Sringeri math."
Kumaraswamy had on Sunday claimed that the RSS was "conspiring" to make Pralhad Joshi the Chief Minister of Karnataka along with eight Deputies, after the assembly polls, and alleged that the latter belonged to a category among Brahmins, which lack culture and divides society.
Coming down heavily on Joshi for criticising JD(S)' "dynasty politics" and its 'Pancharatna Ratha Yatre', he said, the union minister belongs to a Brahmin sect to which the Maratha Peshwas belonged and that had allegedly destroyed Sringeri Math, established by Adi Shankaracharya and desecrated the idol there, and also that killed Mahatma Gandhi.
Criticising JD(S)' dynasty politics and alleged infighting in the first family of that party over ticket distribution, Joshi while addressing BJP's special state executive meet had on Saturday said, "they are taking out 'Pancharantna Yatra', but instead they should have undertaken 'Navagraha Yatre', as 8-9 family members of party patriarch H D Deve Gowda's immediate family are in politics.
Kumaraswamy after the temple visit, told media that he has been complimented by many for his statement and courage.
"People have told me that I have stated facts and something that makes people aware. Many Brahmin community people have complimented me," he said, while listing out his contributions for the Brahmin community, when he was in power.
Hitting out at the ruling BJP, Kumaraswamy said, "What I have said is we don't want Savarkar culture and DNA. We want the Brahmin community with DNA of Sarve jana sukhino bhavantu."
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MP minister's veiled remark on Col Sofia Qureshi sparks major row; he apologises, Cong seeks ouster
Bhopal/Indore, May 13 (PTI): Madhya Pradesh Minister and BJP leader Vijay Shah has sparked a major controversy with objectionable comments that appeared to be directed at Col Sofia Qureshi, whom he tried to project as a "sister of terrorists."
Under severe flak, Shah said if anyone is hurt by his statement, he is ready to apologise ten times, adding that he respects Colonel Qureshi more than his sister.
The Congress has appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to sack Shah from the Madhya Pradesh cabinet.
Colonel Qureshi had conducted regular press briefings, sharing details of the 'Operation Sindoor' launched by Indian armed forces to strike terrorists, joined by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh.
"Those people (terrorists) who had wiped out the sindoor (vermilion) of our sisters (in the Pahalgam terror attack)..We avenged these 'kate-pite' people by sending their sister to destroy them," Shah said.
"They (terrorists) killed our Hindu brothers by making them remove their clothes. PM Modi ji responded by sending their (terrorists') sister in an Army plane to strike them in their houses. They (terrorists) made our sisters widows, so Modiji sent the sister of their community to strip them and teach them a lesson", the BJP leader said while addressing a gathering in Ramkunda village near Indore.
He said, "Revenge was taken for the honour of our country (India), respect, and for the (slain) husbands of our sisters by sending a sister from your (terrorists') community to Pakistan".
The tribal welfare minister clarified that his remarks should not be construed otherwise.
Shah's remarks drew wide-scale condemnation, with Congress demanding his immediate dismissal from the MP cabinet.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said Shah, who made 'derogatory' remarks in reference to Colonel Sofia Qureshi, should be dismissed immediately.
"A minister of the BJP government of Madhya Pradesh has made a very derogatory, shameful and cheap remark about our brave daughter Colonel Sofia Qureshi. The terrorists of Pahalgam wanted to divide the country, but the country was united during the entire 'Operation Sindoor' to give a befitting reply to the terrorists," Kharge posted on X.
He alleged that the BJP-RSS harbours an anti-women mentality.
"First, the wife of the naval officer martyred in Pahalgam was trolled on social media, then the daughter of Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri was harassed, and now the BJP ministers are making such indecent comments about our brave woman Sophia Qureshi," Kharge said and appealed to PM Modi to immediately sack Shah.
Madhya Pradesh Congress president Jitu Patwari shared the video of Shah on X and asked whether the BJP agrees with the minister's "low thinking"?
The MP Congress Committee alleged that Shah's "indecent' and hate-filled" statement is not just a personal attack, but an open attack on India's military dignity, national unity, and women's honour.
Amid the raging controversy, the BJP's Madhya Pradesh general secretary Hitanand Sharma summoned Shah to the state headquarters in Bhopal.
According to sources, Sharma reprimanded the minister, who also met the state BJP president, Vishnu Dutt Sharma.
Speaking to reporters, Shah sought to attribute the intemperate remarks to his "disturbed" state of mind in view of the brutal killing of innocent people in Pahalgam by terrorists.
He claimed many members of his family have a military background and many were martyred.
"Sister Sophia has brought glory to India by rising above caste and religion. She is more respected than our own sister. I salute her for her service to the nation.
"We cannot even think of insulting her in our dreams. Still, if my words have hurt society and religion, then I am ready to apologise ten times,'' he added.
Meanwhile, Congress leader Manoj Shukla and the party workers blackened the nameplate of Shah at his bungalow and raised slogans seeking his resignation.
'हमारी सेना की जांबाज बेटियां आतंकवादियों की बहन हैं'
— Congress (@INCIndia) May 13, 2025
- ये घटिया बात मध्य प्रदेश में BJP सरकार के मंत्री विजय शाह ने कही है।
भारत की जिन बेटियों पर सबको नाज है, उन बेटियों को लेकर ये शर्मनाक बयान दिया गया है। उन्हें आतंकवादियों की बहन बताया गया है।
ये हमारी पराक्रमी सेना का… pic.twitter.com/y591M3ky8G
