Karnataka Minister Yathindra Siddaramaiah has described the RSS as a “poisonous snake with a thousand heads” and demanded a public apology to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge from the RSS, BJP and Sri Ram Sena over the alleged “purification” of a venue where Kharge had addressed a rally.
Yathindra made the remarks while addressing Congress workers on August 15, and a video of his speech has since surfaced. He also urged Congress workers to continue their protest until an apology was made.
“RSS is like a poisonous snake with a thousand heads. It is filled with the poison of casteism, Brahminism and Manusmriti ideology. It is a snake that spreads and injects poison into the entire society. If we leave it like this, our society will be ruined, and our country will also be ruined,” Yathindra claimed.
He demanded that the RSS, BJP and Sri Ram Sena publicly apologise to Kharge. “Until then, we must continue this protest and not give it up. I appeal to our Congress workers to do so,” he said.
The Minister for Urban Development and son of former chief minister Siddaramaiah made the remarks in connection with the row over the ‘shuddhikaran’ ritual at the Ramlila Maidan stage in Haldwani, Uttarakhand. The row erupted after Sri Ram Sena performed a havan using Ganga water at the venue on August 10, two days after Kharge had addressed a political rally there on August 8.
The ritual triggered political outrage, with Congress leaders alleging that it reflected a discriminatory mindset against Dalits. Congress leaders, including Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge, Mallikarjun Kharge’s son, condemned the ritual. Priyank also raised the issue in the Rajya Sabha and questioned whether such caste-based practices had any place in a democracy.
Protests were held at several places in Karnataka over the issue. Yathindra led a dharna in Mysuru condemning the ‘shuddhikaran havan’, while Congress workers also staged demonstrations in Kalaburagi, Kharge’s hometown, as the party pressed for an apology.
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Published By:
India Today Web Desk
Published On:
Aug 18, 2026 00:11 IST
