Karnataka Minister Zameer Khan made a comment on Monday that took a jab at Janata Dal (Secular) leader HD Kumaraswamy, suggesting that while his father and party chief, Deve Gowda, is a secular leader, Kumaraswamy is not.
Khan remarked, "Deve Gowda is unquestionably a 100 percent secular leader. However, Kumaraswamy is not." He went on to allege that Kumaraswamy's personal beliefs align with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
This statement by the Karnataka Minister comes more than a week after the state's JD(S) party joined the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in preparation for the Lok Sabha elections in 2024.
The JD(S) was originally founded by HD Deve Gowda, who served as the Prime Minister of India from June 1996 to April 1997.
The alliance between the JD(S) and the BJP drew criticism from Congress leaders who claimed that the party was no longer "secular."
Last week, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah stated that the JD(S) should not refer to itself as a secular party after aligning with a "communal party."
Siddaramaiah said, "Their name suggests they are secular. Are they still secular now? Should we accept what they claim? Even after forming an alliance with a communal party, can they still be considered secular? Should we accept it? Let them align with the BJP or anyone else; we have no objection. However, they should not claim to be secular. That's all. They should not say that Janata Dal is a secular party," the Chief Minister emphasized.
Regarding the alliance, JD(S) chief Deve Gowda explained that he had thoroughly discussed the pros and cons with the party's legislators before forming the partnership with the BJP.
The BJP viewed the alliance as a significant boost to its prospects in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and a strengthening of the NDA, particularly after it was formed shortly after the Congress was ousted from its sole stronghold in the southern region during the May Assembly polls.
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