Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday alleged that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh prohibits the entry of "shudras" and women into its inner sanctum.
"People should not fall for BJP-RSS. Shudras-Dalits and Women are not allowed inside the RSS sanctum sanctorum," the Chief Minister's office quoted him as saying at the meeting of the SC/ST activists and leaders at the district Congress office. He also alleged that lower-caste communities, referred to as "shudras" were being used by the BJP and RSS for political purposes only.
Siddaramaiah accused the BJP and RSS of being against social justice and opposing reservation policies and emphasized that reservation is not charity but a right of the oppressed communities.
Siddaramaiah argued that reservation should continue to exist as long as the caste system persists in society. He also highlighted the historical discrimination faced by lower-caste groups and women, which was addressed to some extent by the Indian Constitution.
"Before independence and the British era, did we, the Shudras have the right to study? Did women have any rights? A woman had to burn herself immediately after the death of her husband. Such inhuman practices inspired by Manusmriti were prohibited by our Constitution," the Chief Minister added.
The Chief Minister claimed that the BJP and RSS seek to reintroduce Manusmriti, an ancient Hindu text associated with caste hierarchy, by amending the Constitution.
Siddaramaiah referred to instances where senior BJP leaders were allegedly denied entry into the RSS sanctum sanctorum, suggesting a pattern of exclusion.