The state unit of Congress might be holding an SC/ST conference — ‘Ikyata Samavesha’ — in Chitradurga of Karnataka on January 8, folks accustomed to the developments stated on Thursday.
The transfer comes within the backdrop of Bharatiya Janata Celebration holding conventions within the state and with only some months left for the meeting elections. Final month, the BJP held a mega ST rally and public assembly in Ballari district. BJP nationwide president JP Nadda, Union ministers Pralhad Joshi and Bhagwant Khuba, former chief minister BS Yediyurappa, BJP nationwide normal secretary and in-charge Arun Singh, had been amongst those that attended the occasion. In October, the occasion additionally held a conference of Backward Courses in Kalaburagi.
Former deputy chief minister G Parameshwara, who addressed the media on Wednesday in Bengaluru, stated that some events try to mislead the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities, including that the conference is being held to reassure those who the Congress is with them.
“Makes an attempt are being made to mislead these (SC and ST) communities. All of us determined to carry a preliminary assembly to reassure you (folks) that we’re there to guard your well-being. Within the assembly, leaders of all SC and ST communities got here collectively and determined that every one the communities ought to maintain this conference,” Parameshwara stated.
“There are 101 SC and 52 ST sub sects. We wish to carry all of them on one platform. Their issues are the identical and there shouldn’t be variations amongst us,” he stated.
The occasion is aiming to mobilise round 5 lakh folks from the SC and ST communities for the conference, one of many folks quoted above stated. The state unit can be planning to get both former Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi or Priyanka Gandhi Vadra for the occasion, stated the folks.
The BJP has been claiming that it hiked the quota for SCs from 15 to 17% and for STs from 3 to 7%, nonetheless, it was through the Congress-JD(S) rule within the state when the method of accelerating reservation by organising justice Nagamohan Das committee began, Parameshwara identified .
“Now, our demand is to carry this quota hike in authorized framework and introduce it within the ninth schedule of the Structure. If the central authorities doesn’t comply with this, it received’t be applied,” Parameshwara stated.
Veteran Congress chief and former Union minister KH Muniyappa, stated: “BJP is dividing the 101 sub-castes inside SCs and 52 amongst STs. So, we should unite. Equality for all as per Gandhiji’s ideology, Ambedkar’s Structure can solely be achieved by the Congress. All communities ought to be made conscious of this.”
BJP MLC and state SC morcha president, Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, hit out on the Congress for not making a Dalit because the chief minister and stated the occasion makes use of the neighborhood as “vote financial institution”.
“They (Congress) have ditched the SC/ST neighborhood by not making a chief minister from that neighborhood. From the inception of Congress, Dalits have solely been the vote financial institution for the occasion. Many Dalit leaders have additionally stop Congress, which has insulted the neighborhood,” Narayanaswamy stated.
“Our occasion is offering scholarships and incentives for a number of companies as effectively. The neighborhood fought for reservation for over 50 years, however the Congress didn’t pay heed to their calls for. However the BJP hiked the quota for SCs from 15 to 17% and for STs from 3 to 7%,” he stated.
Narayanaswamy stated the conference won’t assist the Congress in any method and the one motive they’re planning the occasion is as a result of the BJP needed to carry an identical conference earlier this yr.
“We had been planning to carry the conference in December, however we’re unable to due to the Meeting session. The Congress desires to carry the conference earlier than us. Allow them to do it. We aren’t nervous.”
“The revolutionary modifications that occurred throughout former prime minister Indira Gandhi’s time ought to be introduced again once more, and will attain throughout the nation. All communities ought to be satisfied by way of this conference. Everybody ought to help the Congress,” Muniyappa stated.
Congress MLA Satish Jarkiholi stated that by way of this platform, they’ll demand that the schemes that had been applied for the SC and ST communities throughout Siddaramaiah’s tenure ought to be introduced again.
“It has been determined that every one the communities ought to unite and lift their voice relating to points on one platform.A minimum of 5 lakh persons are anticipated to affix this conference. We’re holding this occasion to convey that we should always all be united,” Jarkiholi stated.
Requested concerning the demand for a Dalit chief minister, Parameshwara stated it was as much as the occasion excessive command if Congress involves energy within the state. “When the time comes, we’ll inform the excessive command…allow us to first carry the Congress to energy and depart the choice of choosing the chief minister to the excessive command,” he stated.