The Karnataka Assembly witnessed a surprising turn of events on August 21, 2025, when Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar recited the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) anthem, "Namaste Sada Vatsale Matrubhoome". The incident occurred during a debate, and it triggered immediate reactions, including cheers from BJP MLAs.
The unexpected recitation quickly went viral, prompting speculation about its potential political implications. Just days before, Shivakumar had publicly dismissed the RSS's history while defending the Congress party's legacy. This makes his sudden performance of the RSS anthem all the more intriguing and open to interpretation.
The incident unfolded during a discussion in the Assembly, reportedly related to the Chinnaswamy Stadium stampede. According to some reports, Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka, reminded Shivakumar of his past connections with the RSS, which led to the Deputy Chief Minister singing the anthem.
The video of Shivakumar singing "Namaste Sada Vatsale Matrubhoome" rapidly spread across social media platforms. Some observers have suggested it could be a "cryptic message to the Congress high command," especially given ongoing internal discussions within the Karnataka Congress concerning a possible change in the Chief Minister's position.
The BJP was quick to respond, with some leaders taking a dig at the Congress party's criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's praise of the RSS during his Independence Day speech.
This is not the first time DK Shivakumar has been associated with the RSS in the political discourse. In 2019, Shivakumar criticized the BJP and RSS for holding a route march in Ramanagara.
The incident comes at a time when the Karnataka government is facing scrutiny over various issues. The BJP has criticized the state government's decision to provide aid to Wayanad, Kerala, questioning the priorities of the government. The Karnataka government's proposed Crowd Control Bill is also facing opposition and has been referred to a house committee. Meanwhile, the High Court has given the government a month to decide on a bike-taxi policy.
