A day after calling for disenfranchising Muslims in India, the seer of Vishwa Vokkaligara Mahasamsthana Mutt Kumara Chandrashekarnath Swami on Wednesday (November 27, 2024) tendered apology for his remarks, calling it a “slip of the tongue”.
“Muslims are citizens of India and they have voting rights. I apologise to my Muslim brothers for my statement, which was a slip of the tongue. I also request everyone not to continue conversation on the statement,” the seer said in a statement issued here.
What he had said
In what had kicked up a controversy, the seer on Tuesday called for disenfranchising Muslims in India to end vote-bank politics of political parties. The seer made the statement in a protest organised by the Bharatiya Kisan Sangha, an affiliate of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), at Freedom Park here against farmers being issued notices for alleged encroachment of waqf property. BJP State president B.Y. Vijayendra and Leader of the Opposition in Legislative Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy were among those present.
In the statement on Wednesday, the seer said Vokkaligas were tolerant towards all communities, and he had treated all communities equally and had a good relationship with Muslims. “I have taken part in marriage functions of Muslims and people from the Muslim community have visited the mutt. There is no hatred towards the community.”
This story was originally published in thehindu.com. Read the full story here.