Karnataka: Congress leader defends his 'word Hindu is Persian' statement

Despite his statement that the word Hindu is Persian and it has a dirty meaning drawing widespread criticism Karnataka Congress Working President Satish Jarkiholi on Tuesday sought to defend himself saying he was only referring to what has been written and publishedRuling out any apology the former Minister said he wants a debate on the issue and if proved wrong he would resign as a legislatorWhat I have said 90 percent of people have probably not heard it completely Just because there is a reference to the word Hindu and as I have said that it has a very dirty meaning it has been interpreted however they want there is nothing new in this and such things have happened many times in the past Jarkiholi saidSpeaking to reporters here he reiterated that the word Hindu comes from Persian and there is evidence for it and said that it has a dirty meaning referring to a dictionary published in 1963Also Read Word Hindu is Persian has dirty meaning Karnataka Congress leader Satish JarkiholiWhat I have said is not my own and I have said that let there be a debate thats my intention but people interpret it however they want I cant do much about it Im ready for discussion with evidenceif someone proves me wrong I will resign as MLA he addedQuestioning as to why he should apologise the Yamakanmardi legislator said whatever he has said are not his statements but what has been written and publishedIn fact those pointing fingers at me should have seen and rectified it I have done what they should have done they should be thankful to me he said adding that he is being unnecessarily targeted by a system including ManuwadisJarkiholi while speaking at Nippani in Belagavi district during an event organised by Manav Bandhutva Vedike on Sunday claimed that the word Hindu is Persian and has a very dirty meaningHe also had said that a word and a religion from elsewhere is being forcefully imposed on people here and demanded that there should be a proper debate in this regardReacting to this AICC General Secretary incharge of Karnataka Randeep Singh Surjewala on Monday had said the statement attributed to Satish Jarkiholi is deeply unfortunate and deserves to be rejectedWe condemn it unequivocallyHinduism is a way of life and a civilisational reality Congress built our nation to respect every religion belief and faith This is the essence of India he said in a tweetTo a question on Congress too condemning his statement Jarkiholi said party leaders should have reacted naturally without having seen what he has actually saidSurjewala has condemned it I have no objections to it he is a higher authority than me he said in response to a question adding that the AICC General Secretary even spoke to him and sought clarificationThere is no question of apologising let the Chief Minister form a committee to find the truth in what I have said if proved wrong will resign no apology he addedCongress Legislature Party Leader Siaddarmaaiah not willing to say much said Our national General Secretary Surjewala has reacted thats my standState Congress President D K Shivakumar rejecting Jarkiholis statement calling it his personal said he will seek clarificationMeanwhile Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai accusing Jarkiholi of trying to vitiate the atmosphere in society through such statements said his statement has hurt the sentiments of people of this countryThe Congress party is indulging in appeasement politics with such statements just for the sake of votes he said as he called Jarkiholis words as half baked statements without any indepth studyBy doing this the Congress leaders are trying to disturb the very foundation of belief of every Indian Creating problems within any country amounts to the act of antinationalism Everyone must condemn such acts But the Congress Party has been acting as if it is supporting such a statement he told reporters in the district headquarters town of UdupiSeveral BJP leaders including B S Yediyurappa and Ministers in Bommais cabinet have hit out at Jarkiholi and Congress party for the anti Hindu statementThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever