Government should have organised massive protest against insult to Mallikarjun Kharge, says Congress leader
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“The Congress government in Karnataka should have organised a massive protest against the insult suffered by Mallikarjun Kharge, AICC chairman, after the ‘purification ritual’ incident in Haldwani. I am disappointed that the Congress did not protest properly,’’ Prasad Abbayya, MLA and Congress leader, said in Davangere on Sunday.
“Due to his pro-public efforts and integrity, Mallikarjun Kharge has evolved into a mass leader with a clean image. He has grown beyond any caste affiliation. It is a matter of disgrace that he was insulted by the right-wing forces who performed purification after his visit to Haldwani. In fact, this was such a grave offence against the constitutional principle of equality that it is an insult to all Indian citizens. We need to realise this and oppose such attempts strongly,’’ Mr. Abbayya, the Dalit leader from Hubballi, said.
He was speaking at an event to felicitate meritorious students organised by the Chalavadi community in Davanagere. He urged community members to stand united with Home Minister Priyank Kharge. “The Home Minister is forging ahead due to his knowledge and clarity of thought, but he is facing verbal attacks from vested interests. We must stand firmly behind him,” he said.
“Ideology is more important for me than power. I once said that compared to ideology, power is like the chappals I wear. I stand by it even now,’’ H.C. Mahadevappa, former Minister, said.
“When Janata Dal (Secular) leaders expelled former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, we all quit. Some of his followers organised an AHINDA rally in Hubballi. I was going there when H.D. Deve Gowda sent word with someone saying I should come back to the JD(S). The messenger told me that I would be made a Minister if I came back to the party. It was then that I said that power meant nothing to me in front of ideology,’’ Dr. Mahadevappa said.
“We must remain committed to our ideology. It was B.R. Ambedkar who gave us democracy. The British government was delaying the transfer of power to Indians. It was Dr. Ambedkar who persuaded the then British Prime Minister Winston Churchill to allow the transfer of power. We should all be proud of this fact. It is our responsibility to make this democracy work. All the deprived communities, the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, various other backward classes, minorities, and others must remain united,” he said.
Minister K.S. Basavantappa alleged that outsourcing agencies were fleecing pourakarmikas in some places. “I am the son of pourakarmikas. I will not allow this. We will bring in strict measures to stop it,’’ he said. The Minister added that he would request Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar to institute an award for pourakarmikas in the name of former Minister B. Basavalingappa. “Mr. Basavalingappa was a great leader who banned the practice of manual scavenging in the State. It is because of him that civic workers today lead dignified lives, he said.
“Mr. Basavantappa urged the various factions of Dalit associations to unite. We should become true Ambedkarites and internalise his ideology. We should not go around forming associations for the sake of forming them,’’ he said.
Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara inaugurated the event at the S.S. Mallikarjun Cultural Centre. Sri Jnana Prakasha Swamiji, former Minister H.C. Mahadevappa, Minister K.S. Basavantappa, Prabha Mallikarjun, MP, Samarth Shamanur, MLA, and other community leaders were present.
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