Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has denied the Bharatiya Janata Party's allegation that Rahul Gandhi pushed him during an opposition march in New Delhi on 12 October. The dispute follows a video clip that showed Shivakumar moving behind Gandhi amid a crowded procession.

The BJP described the alleged incident as an insult to Karnataka and claimed that Shivakumar had been deliberately moved away from Gandhi. Shivakumar rejected that interpretation, saying Gandhi did not push him and that no one deliberately forced him back.

Shivakumar rejects BJP's version

Shivakumar said Gandhi was concerned about the crowd and advised him to sit in a vehicle that was following them. According to Shivakumar, the march had drawn a very large number of people, making movement difficult.

He also accused the BJP of spreading false information. In a pointed remark, Shivakumar said the party appeared to have considerable interest in him, which was why it was circulating what he called incorrect information.

The BJP had shared the video on X while attacking Gandhi. Its Karnataka unit said Gandhi had called the state's chief minister to Delhi and insulted him. The party also said that Kannada-speaking people would not forgive Gandhi and the Congress party.

Those statements turned the video into a political dispute between the Congress and the BJP. The BJP presented the footage as evidence of disrespect towards a leader representing Karnataka, while Shivakumar gave a different account of what happened in the crowd.

BJP leaders intensify criticism

B Y Vijayendra, president of the Karnataka BJP, criticised the opposition march from Delhi towards the Supreme Court. He described it as an open display of hooliganism, arrogance and blind devotion.

Vijayendra also alleged that the event showed disregard for constitutional propriety and democratic institutions. He said the Congress had staged a political spectacle that did not spare the judiciary.

He further claimed that Gandhi's ambition to obtain power placed no value on the dignity of party leaders, the office of an elected chief minister or the safety of journalists. These were political allegations made in response to the video and the march.

Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya also shared the clip. He linked the episode to what he described as the arrogance of inherited political power and referred to the earlier removal of Veerendra Patil as Karnataka chief minister, which he said had been announced by Rajiv Gandhi from an airport.

Security explanation from G Parameshwara

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara offered another explanation for the footage. Responding to questions, he said managing crowds during protests can be difficult and that similar situations had occurred in the past.

Parameshwara said the security personnel present had the primary responsibility of protecting Rahul Gandhi and preventing people from approaching him easily. He said Shivakumar unfortunately moved towards that area and received a light push in the crowd.

He added that although a chief minister is entitled to protocol, security personnel in such circumstances prioritise the person assigned to their protection, regardless of who is trying to approach them.

The accounts from Shivakumar and Parameshwara both reject the BJP's suggestion that Gandhi intentionally pushed the Karnataka leader. Shivakumar said Gandhi was trying to protect him from the crowd, while Parameshwara attributed the contact to security arrangements and movement during the protest.

Conclusion

The video has triggered a political confrontation, but Shivakumar denies being pushed by Rahul Gandhi. He says Gandhi advised him to move towards a vehicle because the crowd was too large, while Parameshwara says any contact occurred as security personnel managed access to Gandhi.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What did DK Shivakumar deny?

Shivakumar denied that Rahul Gandhi pushed him during the opposition march in New Delhi.

Q. When did the reported incident take place?

The reported incident took place during an opposition march in New Delhi on 12 October.

Q. What did Shivakumar say Gandhi was doing?

Shivakumar said Gandhi was concerned about the crowd and suggested that he sit in a vehicle following them.

Q. What did the BJP allege?

The BJP alleged that Gandhi pushed Shivakumar away and described the incident as an insult to Karnataka.

Q. What explanation did G Parameshwara give?

Parameshwara said the crowd was difficult to manage and that Shivakumar received a light push while moving towards the area near Gandhi.

Q. What did the BJP's Karnataka president say?

B Y Vijayendra criticised the march and alleged that it showed disregard for constitutional propriety and democratic institutions.

Q. Who else criticised the incident?

Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya shared the video and criticised what he described as inherited political power and arrogance.