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Bengaluru, October 28 (IANS) Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara said on Tuesday that there was nothing wrong in the demand for a Dalit Chief Minister.
He said, “What is wrong in organizing the Dalit conference? Earlier, the high command had asked us to postpone it for some reasons and we had agreed. In the interest of the party, the Dalit community has always stood with the Congress.”
The state Home Minister said that to maintain this unity, the party needs to organize such conferences from time to time to explain what welfare schemes the government has implemented for the Dalit community.
“We should also listen to their demands and provide assurance for the future,” he said.
He further reiterated that there is nothing wrong in demanding a Dalit Chief Minister. “The community is just expressing its opinion,” he said.
Responding to Large and Medium Industries Minister MB Patil’s comment that G Parameshwara and Satish Jarkiholi are capable of becoming chief ministers, Parameshwara said there are many capable leaders in the party.
“The Congress has produced many leaders, many of whom later moved to other parties and grew in stature. Our party is like a training school; we train leaders and send them out,” he said.
Parameshwara said there are many capable leaders within the Congress and it is up to the high command to choose whom.
The state home minister said that when the party selected the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader, no one said that Siddaramaiah would be the chief minister only for two and a half years, and no time limit was fixed.
“We had elected Siddaramaiah as chief minister for full five years. If the high command later decides otherwise, that is their prerogative,” he said.
Meanwhile, Social Welfare Minister HC Mahadevappa said that if there was a power-sharing agreement, it would have been implemented long ago.
He reiterated, “The decision to change the Chief Minister lies with the high command. The high command will take the decision and provide clarity in this regard.”
When Mahadevappa was asked about Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s statement that he would complete a five-year tenure if the high command wanted, he said there was nothing wrong in what he had said.
Speaking about the Dalit conference, Minister Mahadevappa said that Dalit issues are national issues and there is a need to give a message in this regard.
–IANS
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