Yathindra defends father Siddaramaiah over Karnataka cabinet picks, opposes Hindu Rashtra

Karnataka minister Yathindra Siddaramaiah defended his father, former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, over cabinet selections and repeated his opposition to India becoming a Hindu Rashtra. He said Siddaramaiah recommended 14 ministerial names, most approved by Congress high command, and strongly pushed for senior leader H C Mahadevappa, who was excluded. Siddaramaiah did not seek a berth for B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan. Yathindra said his father was not unhappy; his swearing-in absence was due to his birthday. He defended his own induction and reiterated that a Hindu Rashtra would revive caste divisions and exploitation.