Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday urged people to be cautious about the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the broader Sangh Parivar, and to avoid the company of “sanatanis”, PTI reported.

At an event in Mysuru, the Congress leader alleged that the RSS and Sangh Parivar historically opposed BR Ambedkar and the Constitution, and continue to do so.

“Keep your company right,” Siddaramaiah said. “Associate with those who stand for society, not with those who oppose social change or with sanatanis.”

The chief minister was referring to those who practice Sanatana Dharma – a term that is often interpreted in south India as referring to discriminatory caste practices. However, many also understand the term Sanatana Dharma to mean Hinduism as a whole.

Siddaramaiah on Saturday referred to an incident from October 6 when a Delhi-based lawyer tried to throw a shoe at Chief Justice BR Gavai in the Supreme Court, accusing him of insulting Hinduism.

“The fact that a ‘sanatani’ threw a shoe at the chief justice shows that ‘sanatanis’ and orthodox elements still exist in society,” the Congress leader said. “This act should be condemned not just by Dalits but by everyone. Only then can we say that society is moving on the path of change.”

Siddaramaiah accused the RSS and Sangh Parivar of spreading false propaganda in the name of Ambedkar, PTI reported.

“They are spreading lies that the Congress defeated Ambedkar in the elections,” he said. “But the truth is what Ambedkar himself wrote in his own handwriting ‘Savarkar and Dange defeated me.’”

The Congress leader was referring to Hindutva ideologue VD Savarkar and Communist Party of India leader SA Dange.

Ambedkar had contested the 1952 Lok Sabha election from the Bombay North Central seat, but had lost to Congress candidate NS Kajrolkar. The Communist Party of India and the Hindu Mahasabha, of which Savarkar was a part, had also campaigned against Ambedkar during the election.

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