Siddaramaiah seeking ban on RSS is unfortunate: CM Bommai

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai lashed out at former CM Siddaramaiah and said it was 'unfortunate' that the Leader of the Opposition in the State Legislative Assembly was seeking a ban on the RSS.

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai lashed out at former CM Siddaramaiah and said it was 'unfortunate' that the Leader of the Opposition in the State Legislative Assembly was seeking a ban on the RSS.

CM Basavaraj Bommai said the Congress had no basis to ask why the PFI has been banned because it was the same party that had withdrawn the cases booked against it.  ((Twitter | Basavaraj S Bommai))

Talking to reporters here on Friday, CM Bommai said, "The Congress has no basis to ask why the Popular Front of India (PFI) has been banned because it was the same party that had withdrawn the cases booked against PFI".

"To cover up their mistakes, the Congress leaders are demanding a ban on RSS but they don't say why it should be banned," he added.

READ | 'Siddaramaiah shouldn’t have…': Karnataka CM amid face-off over PFI ban

The Centre on Tuesday declared the Popular Front of India (PFI), and its associates or affiliates or fronts, as an unlawful association with immediate effect for five years, under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.

The ban on PFI and its affiliates was welcomed and opposed by many leaders nationwide. However, in Karnataka, it triggered a debate between the two leaders after the former CM and the Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly Siddaramiah gave a controversial statement on RSS.

READ | PFI was given boost by Siddaramaiah in the past, says BSY

While comparing the RSS and PFI, Siddharamiah called for a ban on RSS too. This triggered a controversy in the state.

"The RSS has built several institutions for poor, downtrodden, and destitute people, and rendered help during natural disasters. The RSS is an organization that is trying to create awareness of patriotism. I feel Siddaramaiah should not have stooped to this level," CM Bommai said.

Earlier, K Suresh, Congress MP from Kerala compared the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) with the Popular Front of India and demanded a similar ban on it for perpetuating "Hindu communalism."

Asked about Congress top post poll, Bommai said it is an internal matter of the Congress Party and did not want to comment on it. However, he added that this may be because the election for the party president was happening for the first time.