Home Minister G Parameshwara refuses to ‘comment’ on DK Shivakumar reciting RSS anthem, says ‘we have high command’

BENGALURU:Home Minister G Parameshwara on Tuesday refused to comment on the issue related to state Deputy CM DK Shivakumar’s recent recital of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh anthem inside the Assembly

Parameshwara said that the Congress party has a high command which is aware of what leaders are doing. He said that if the high command feels that Shivakumar’s action was wrong, they will seek an answer from him.

“I don’t want to comment on that. We have the high command. They are always watching what their leaders are doing, making statements or taking a stand on issues. It is for the high command to see. If they feel that this is wrong, then they will ask for an answer from Shivakumar. If they think this is just a reference and it is in a different context, then they will not bother about this,” Parameshwara told reporters.

#WATCH | Bengaluru | On Dy CM DK Shivakumar reciting the RSS anthem in the Karnataka Assembly, Karnataka Minister G Parameshwara says, “I dont want to comment on that. We have the high command. They are always watching what their leaders are doing, making statements or taking a… pic.twitter.com/5CbYXBjIni

— ANI (@ANI) August 26, 2025

On August 22, Karnataka Deputy CM shivakumar broke into Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s (RSS) anthem during an exchange of words with BJP MLA R Ashoka during the assembly session.

The incident occurred during a debate in the Assembly on August 22, when Ashoka pointed towards Shivakumar, emphasising that the state government should take responsibility for the RCB stampede.

Shivakumar retorted that he knew all about the BJP’s tricks, and then proceeded to recite a few lines of the RSS anthem.

Addressing the Assembly, Shivakumar admitted that a mistake had happened, but the government took immediate action.

He said, “I am a member of the Karnataka State Cricket Association, and everyone there is my friend. I have also carried the flag and handed over the cup. Some mistake happened, but I am just a cricket fan. The government has already taken immediate action. Was there no stampede at the Kumbh Mela?” (ANI)