Congress leader D.K. Shivakumar, Image credit: PTI
Bengaluru: D.K. Shivakumar, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president, on Monday explained his party's stand on Hindutva.
The Congress, he said "firmly believes in Hindutva ideology practiced and propagated by Mahatma Gandhi and Swami Vivekananda".
He said, talking to media after a senior leaders' meeting here: Mahatma Gandhi and Swami Vivekanada propagated inclusive Hindutva, while the BJP follows divisive Hindutva.
"Hindu and Hinduism are no one's property. These are India's ethos and belongs to everyone," he said.
He was responding to questions on the BJP's proposed law on banning interfaith marriages, also termed as 'Love Jihad'.
He asserted that "protecting the constitution is our commitment and our stand".
"We are planning to make Congress a cadre based party, hence, we plan to form booth and panchayat level committees during the upcoming gram panchayat elections itself," he added.
The Karnataka State Election Commission on Monday announced polls to 5,762 gram panchayats in the state in two phases on December 22 and 27, and the model code of conduct has come into immediate effect.
As for the polls, the KPCC president said that nine teams will be formed including all leaders in a strong bid to win majority of GPs in next month's elections.
IANS report with edits