Karnataka's BJP MP Anant Kumar Hegde has given clarification on his remarks on Mahatma Gandhi during a rally in Bangalore. Actually, Hegde termed Mahatma Gandhi's Freedom movement as 'Drama'. This issue was also raised a lot in Parliament. At the same time, the BJP has referred the matter to the party's disciplinary committee for further action on his statement.
Anant Kumar Hegde said, 'I stand by my statement on 1 February 2020. I have never made reference to any political party or Mahatma Gandhi or anyone else. I was only trying to classify the freedom struggle. The speech is present on a public platform, if anyone wants to see it, it is available online and also on my website. I have never said a word about Mahatma Gandhi and Pandit Nehru. I was only discussing our freedom struggle. 'Regarding the statement on Mahatma Gandhi, Hegde said, 'All media reports are false. I have never said anything on which the debate is going on. This is a needless dispute.'
Addressing an event in Bangalore, Hegde had said how such people are called 'Mahatmas' in India. He had said, 'The entire freedom movement was a big drama played with the consent and support of the British. Satyagraha and hunger strike was also a drama. These so-called leaders were never beaten by the police even once.' He had said that people support the Congress saying that the country got independence due to hunger strike and satyagraha, but this is not true. The British rulers left the country not because of Satyagraha but due to despair and frustration.
