Dharwad, 2 October (IANS) ridiculed internal conflict in the Karnataka Congress unit, Union Minister for Power sharing, Central Food, Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs, Pralhad Joshi, said on Thursday that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is doing a caste census in the state to save his post.
Talking to reporters in Dharwad, Joshi claimed: “While Siddaramaiah has claimed that he will remain the Chief Minister for five years, the leaders of Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivkumar’s faction are already discussing the change in leadership. Against this background, CM Siddaramaiah has taken his political calculus as a political calculations.”
Joshi is known as a caste census on the Siddaramaiah government on the social, economic and educational survey going on in Karnataka, said that the central government has already decided to do national census, so there is no opposition to the calculation.
“However, the state survey includes unnecessary and personal questions. What does it mean to list categories like ‘Christian Lingayat’ or ‘Christian Brahmin’? It is a census designed to encourage Hindu’s conversion,” Joshi said.
He further explained that the survey also includes questions like, “Are you a member of a social organization?” Joshi, while reacting angrily, said that it is an attempt to divide Hindu society.
Joshi said that the views of the Veerashaiva-Lingayat community have also held meetings and expressed the idea that, regardless of caste, all are Hindus. “But the Congress -led government is politically taking such measures to break the Hindu society,” Joshi alleged.
Commenting on recent statements by the leaders of the state Congress, to share the CM’s post about the alleged power-sharing agreement between him and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for equal conditions, State Congress President and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivkumar said that no one has the right to speak on the matter.
Speaking to the media on Thursday, Shivkumar answered the questions of reporters and issued a clear warning.
“Anyone is speaking about power-sharing, indulging in anti-party activity. Talking about it harms the party,” he said.
Shivkumar appealed to all party members to refrain from discussing the issue, stating that such comments harm the party’s image in the state.
Shivkumar reiterated that CM Siddaramaiah has clearly stated that the decision of high command is final. “We will follow the decision of high command. For us, party is more important than individuals,” he said.
He said, “There is no discussion on power-sharing. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has already issued a statement. Nobody should talk about it. Those who continue to talk on the issue are harming the party’s reputation,” he said.
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MKA/And