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Maths propagating untouchability: Kharge

By Our Staff Correspondent

HASSAN DEC. 21. The Home Minister, M. Mallikarjuna Kharge, on Saturday came down heavily upon the heads of religious maths for allegedly propagating untouchability and adhering to the principles contained in Manu Dharmashastra to exploit the members of lower castes.

Addressing a gathering after unveiling a bronze statue of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar in front of the Deputy Commissioner's office here, he said those who fed sugar to ants were not prepared to offer even drinking water to people from the lower castes.

Stressing the need to follow the ideology professed by Dr. Ambedkar, he noted that the values of democracy were in danger. Accusing the Sangh Parivar of endangering the plurality of the country, he said the secular principles enshrined in the Constitution were facing a grave threat. He said a few people wanted to keep the caste system alive for vote bank politics, and were making attempts to divide society in the name of caste and religion.

"Few people, while preaching that we are all one, are engaged in setting up separate maths for the members of different castes. Does this country belong to just a few people?" he asked and said it was time to take every one irrespective of his/her caste, creed, and culture into the mainstream in the interest of the country.

It was imperative for Dalits to get educated as it would help them achieve economic stability and organise themselves to defeat the "divisive" attempts being made by a few people. He said the Dalits had failed to achieve this due to the conspiracy of the upper class.

He underscored the need for progressive forces to come together as any danger to democracy would first affect the weaker sections of society. The Constitution was sacred than any of the religious texts as it was an unifying force, he said.

He said Dr. Ambedkar was not only a leader of the Dalits but of every person of the country as he had worked for the betterment of people.

He thanked the Revenue Minister and district in-charge, H.C. Srikantaiah, for taking steps to get the statue installed in front of the Deputy Commissioner's office.

Mr. Srikantaiah, who inaugurated the programme, said Dr. Ambedkar was a visionary and struggled for the betterment of the oppressed classes.

K.H. Hanume Gowda, Puttaranganath, and A. Manju, MLAs, the President of the Hassan Zilla Panchayat, G.T. Indira, the Deputy Commissioner, A. Maheswara Rao, and the Superintendent of Police, Panduranga H. Rane, were present.

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