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Bengaluru, Nov 19 (IANS) Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday said Congress cannot stop Dalits from joining BJP or RSS, adding that people mostly from backward communities die in the name of religion.
“What can we say if backward classes and Dalits, who consider BJP-RSS-ABVP as their adversaries, still associate with them? Despite knowing that the ideology of BJP-RSS is hostile towards backward classes, they still go there. What can we do about it?” He said this while addressing the inauguration of ‘LG Havanur Report Golden Jubilee’ organized by Karnataka State Backward Classes Federation at Gyanjyoti Auditorium in Bengaluru.
Siddaramaiah said those dying in the name of God and religion are mostly from backward communities, adding that out of self-interest they join the BJP-RSS and speak out more aggressively than original RSS leaders like Hedgewar.
He highlighted that late CM D. Devaraj Urs had called the Havanur report as the “Bible for the backward classes” and said that the Supreme Court had also highly appreciated the report.
Siddaramaiah recounting the life of Havanur, born in an ordinary Scheduled Caste family of the village, said that even as a student, Havanur had a habit of protesting and became the first lawyer from his community.
The chief minister also recalled a newspaper comment he made when he was finance minister: “Will this Siddaramaiah be able to count 100 sheep in the budget?”
He said that he took it as a challenge and presented 16 budgets and now he is presenting the 17th budget. He stressed that it is opportunity that enables action, and access for marginalized communities is vital.
He said that Havanur, born in Beda caste, demonstrated his abilities. Siddaramaiah said, “Talent does not belong to anyone, it emerges when given an opportunity.”
The Chief Minister also recalled contesting and losing the 1991 Lok Sabha elections. Havanur had supported him in the legal dispute related to the election, which strengthened their personal bond.
Referring to BR Ambedkar, Siddaramaiah said that as long as the caste system exists, reservation should exist.
He said, “Even though we have 68 per cent backward communities, the caste system is still deeply rooted. Those who benefit from the caste system only strengthen it. Many backward communities have not yet given up the mentality of slavery. Calling the upper caste as poor in the plural and the lower caste as rich in the singular is a sign of slavery.”
He said that even educated people from backward communities stick to superstitions considering poverty as fate.
“Similarly, educated members of marginalized groups still hold superstitions,” he said.
The Chief Minister said that he said that Buddha, Basavanna and Ambedkar fought against the caste system.
He said, “When they fought, it seemed that the system had become loose, but later it became strict again. The caste system is not ending.”
Siddaramaiah said his government is ready to implement reservation based on economic, social and educational reports and is interested in increasing the reservation limit to 70-75 percent.
Siddaramaiah said that because of his ideological commitment, Rahul Gandhi put pressure on the central government to conduct caste census.
During his speech, Siddaramaiah also read verses from Manusmriti which discriminate against the Shudra community.
–IANS
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