From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Aug 15: Without directly naming the BJP and the Sangh Parivar outfits, Deputy Chief Minister and KPCC President D K Shivakumar on Thursday said it was ‘unfortunate that those who collaborated with British during freedom struggle are preaching patriotism while in power’.

Addressing the party workers in the presence of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and State Congress Seva Dal president Ramachandra and other Congress leaders at the KPCC office after hoisting the national flag, he underscored the need to be vigilant and educate the people about the people who wear false masks.

Congressmen should remember that over 6.5 lakh party leaders and workers have sacrificed their lives and properties, the KPCC Chief asked the partymen to proudly proclaim that the Congress party had fought against the colonial rulers.

Shivakumar named the Bharatiya Jan Sangh leader Shyam Prasad Mukherjee, and mentioned that the leader revered by BJP had written to the British to suppress the Quit India movement and had opposed the freedom struggle. “It is shameful that the followers of this person are now asking about the Congress party’s contribution to the country,” he said. He lashed out at BJP and the Narendra Modi regime for selling the public sector undertakings established by the Congress under Jawaharlal Nehru’s leadership.

“The BJP which collaborated with British during freedom struggle and conspired with them. They are nothing but Shakunis (the mythological cunning person, who sided with Kauravas against Pandavas in Mahabharatha),” he said.

Shivakumar said Congressmen must unite to fight against the fascist forces, who denigrated the freedom struggle, and asked Congress party workers to revere their forefathers who valiantly fought against the British during the freedom struggle.

The Deputy Chief Minister said the first seeds of the rebellion against British was sown in Karnataka with the Amarasullia struggle in 1937. The Isuru village in Shivamogga district was the first declare freedom from British, he said and reminded the partymen that the salt satyagraha was led by Congress leader Hanumatharao at Ankola in Uttara Kannada district in 1930.

The Chief Minister said the real meaning of freedom and independence is asking all the people to pledge themselves to fight for the upliftment of the oppressed and work for welfare of all sections of society, especially those at the bottom of the development pyramid.

The Congress government’s five guarantees which have benefitted a large section of the people were aimed at the welfare of poor, downtrodden and empowerment of women, he said and asserted that the government was working for bringing about social justice.