New Delhi: Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma have criticised Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar over a video purportedly showing Congress leader Rahul Gandhi pulling him back by his shirt during an INDIA bloc protest in New Delhi.

Shivakumar has rejected the criticism, saying Rahul Gandhi had asked him to return to his vehicle out of concern for his safety. He added that a 10-second video could not tell the whole story.

The exchange follows an INDIA bloc protest on October 12 against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, with opposition leaders raising allegations of ‘Vote Chori’.

What did Rijiju and Himanta Sarma say?

Sharing the video on X, Rijiju said Shivakumar, who frequently emphasises his identity as a proud Kannadiga, should stand up to Rahul Gandhi over what the BJP leader described as humiliation.

“Chief Minister of Karnataka Shri D.K. Shivakumar ji identifies himself as a proud Kannadiga and frequently emphasises his deep ties to Karnataka's language, culture, and people. He will surely stand up against Rahul Gandhi Ji for humiliating him, the way Himanta Ji stood,” Rijiju wrote.

Sarma also shared the video, drawing a parallel with his own departure from the Congress in 2015. He said he had refused to accept humiliation as a proud Assamese.

“In 2015, I refused to swallow humiliation, as a proud Assamese. God was kind to me,” Sarma said.

The Assam Chief Minister then questioned whether Shivakumar would accept what he described as public humiliation, stressing that the Karnataka Chief Minister represented the state's history, culture and pride.

“The Chief Minister of Karnataka is not just an individual. He is a constitutional office, and the face of a State with a glorious history, a rich culture and great pride. Will he bow to this public humiliation?” Sarma wrote.

He added, “‘Reinvention’ can't hide arrogance. Change the mask all you like; the face beneath stays the same.”

Sarma left the Congress in 2015 and joined the BJP. He became Assam Chief Minister in 2021.
Also read | Marco Rubio to visit Mumbai, Jamnagar as US deadline on Russian Oil nears: Why now?

DK Shivakumar responds

Responding to the criticism, Shivakumar defended his relationship with Rahul Gandhi and said the Congress leader had asked him to return to his vehicle because of concerns for his safety during the protest.

“Our Fight Is for Democracy, Not Distractions,” Shivakumar wrote on X.

He said the protest had witnessed a large turnout of people united in opposing alleged ‘Vote Chori’ and defending democracy.

“Shri @RahulGandhi, out of concern for my safety, advised me to return to the vehicle and be cautious. That is the bond we share- one rooted in trust, affection and family,” he said.

Rejecting the interpretation of the video, Shivakumar added, “A 10-second video cannot tell the whole story.”

He urged people not to lose sight of the opposition's central demand, saying the focus should remain on alleged electoral irregularities and protecting every Indian's right to vote.
Also read | Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka and Ajinkya Shinde arrested; CJP questions Delhi Police action

What happened during the INDIA bloc protest?

The video shared by BJP leaders purportedly shows Rahul Gandhi pulling Shivakumar back by his shirt during an INDIA bloc march from Barakhamba Road towards the Supreme Court in New Delhi on October 12.

The protest was held against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, with opposition leaders raising concerns over alleged electoral irregularities.

The video triggered a political exchange, with BJP leaders portraying the interaction as an instance of disrespect towards the Karnataka Chief Minister, while Shivakumar maintained that Rahul Gandhi was concerned about his safety.

The competing accounts have turned the brief video into a fresh point of confrontation between the BJP and the Congress, even as opposition leaders continue to press their allegations over ‘Vote Chori’.