Bengaluru
Karnataka Legislative Council member B.K. Hariprasad has responded sharply to former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar, asserting that he has never compromised principles for power. Hariprasad said in a statement on Saturday that while election outcomes reflect the voters’ verdict, he has never contested elections based on caste, religion, money, or muscle power, and has no intention of doing so in the future.
Addressing Shettar’s comments about the RSS and political strategies, Hariprasad challenged him to a public forum to discuss the organization’s historical role. “I am ready to expose the RSS’s controversial past with documented evidence. Shettar should come prepared, bringing along BJP leaders and senior Sangh members for an open debate,” he said.
Hariprasad also criticized Shettar for commenting on election victories and defeats without having faced grassroots challenges like the Panchayat elections, calling it “laughable” to lecture on political strategies while bypassing direct electoral contests.
He emphasized that he is open to discussing the relationship between electoral politics, democratic processes, and the Sangh Parivar, inviting Shettar for a transparent and public conversation. Hariprasad’s statements underline his commitment to principled politics and willingness to engage in open debate about political influence and ideological affiliations, contrasting it with what he sees as opportunistic behavior in others’ political careers.
The remarks have intensified political discourse in Karnataka, highlighting ongoing tensions within party ranks and ideological divides concerning the role of the Sangh Parivar in state politics.
