Bengaluru Deputy Chief Minister and KPCC President DK Shivakumar asserted that Mahatma Gandhi’s principles and the Congress ideology are inseparable, and even the BJP relies on Gandhiji’s legacy to sustain itself.
Speaking at the Gandhi Jayanti programme held at the KPCC office, Shivakumar said, “Though BJP’s principles are different, whenever they protest against the government, they still stand in front of Gandhiji’s statue. Even today, BJP is forced to depend on Congress welfare schemes and replicate our guarantees. This clearly shows that Gandhiji and Congress continue to be the guiding force for the entire country, including the BJP.”
He highlighted that Congress guarantees, Aadhaar, food security, employment assurance, and right to education were all landmark initiatives introduced by Congress governments. “BJP initially criticized Aadhaar, but today without Aadhaar a person has no identity. These are contributions of Congress that no government has been able to undo,” he remarked.
The Deputy CM further said the Congress government will continue to uphold Gandhi’s values of peace, non-violence, and social justice, stressing, “Durga means strength, Gandhi means peace. We must embrace both strength and peace in our governance. Gandhiji is the soul of India and a messenger of peace to the world.”
On BJP’s ideological limitations, Shivakumar took a dig, “Congress is the strength of the nation, Congress history is India’s history. Leaders across the world, from Barack Obama to Nelson Mandela, have drawn inspiration from Mahatma Gandhi. BJP can never claim that legacy.”
He also announced the launch of the ‘Gandhi Jyothi March’ across all 224 constituencies of Karnataka, saying, “The flame of Gandhiji’s ideals will travel across the state and return on Congress Foundation Day. This will inspire the youth to follow Gandhiji’s vision.”
Shivakumar concluded by quoting Gandhi, “If you want to control yourself, use your brain; if you want to win others, use your heart. We must overcome hatred with love and embrace Gandhiji’s teachings in our lives.”
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