‘Denied Post of CM Three Times Because I am Dalit’, Karnataka Deputy CM Parameshwara Accuses Coalition Govt of Casteism?

Karnataka deputy chief minister G Parameshwara has accused the coalition government of casteism and alleged that he was not made the CM due to his caste.

New Delhi: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara at an event in Davangere on Sunday alleged that he was denied the post of chief minister three times because he belongs to a Dalit community and added, “I reluctantly accepted the deputy CM’s post, which I was not interested in.”

Speaking of other tall Dalit leaders who were denied crucial portfolios or ranks, senior Congress leader Parameshwara said, “PK Basavalingappa and KH Ranganath missed the chief minister post. Current  sitting MP from Kalaburagi Mallikarjun Kharge also couldn’t become CM. I missed it thrice. Somehow, I was made deputy CM.”

The New Indian Express quoted Parameshwara speaking at the event, “Dalit leaders were not given a chance to be CM. Dalits are being discriminated at the government level too. Even though reservation is facilitated, there has been injustice in promotions.”

This comes in tow of the alleged rift in the JDS-Congress government in Karnataka, wherein the HD Kumaraswamy faction had a brief fallout with Congress leaders- after they voiced demands to make Siddaramaiah the chief minister again.

“Congress leaders have to watch all that issues, I’m not the concerned person for it. If they want to continue with it, I’m ready to step down. They’re crossing line…Congress leaders must control their MLAs,” Kumaraswamy was quoted by ANI as saying.

To this, G Parameshwara had then defended his party MLAs and said, “Siddaramaiah has been best CM. He is our CLP leader. For the MLA, he (Siddaramaiah) is the CM. He has expressed his opinion. What is wrong in that?”

PARAMESHWARA NOW

Speaking of atrocities towards Dalits in the state on Sunday, the Karnataka deputy chief minister said that seven government officials, who were demoted earlier, committed suicide.

A report in Deccan Chronicle said that he and Social Welfare Minister Priyank Kharge seem to have taken upon themselves the task of securing justice for government employees, who were given demotion after the Supreme Court struck down the state government legislation. “Seven people committed suicide after the SC struck down our legislation. That’s why we have started taking corrective measures. Within a week, we will implement the new law.”

He added, “Our government will come out with rules next week to implement reservation in promotions.”

Parameshwara, who is the President of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), gave a clarion call to the Dalit community to unite and work for its welfare and added that, “Dr Ambedkar was of the view that SCs should not be further categorised into different groups. We should follow his words. We should not create sub-castes among ourselves. Unless we unite, we can’t overcome the discrimination of caste.”