Karnataka - Gulbarga   

`Political parties using Dalits as vote banks'

By Our Special Correspondent

GULBARGA, FEB. 19. The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Mumbai, Balachandra L. Mungekar, on Thursday lamented that Dalits continued to be subjugated by vested interests and caste Hindus and denied their share of political power.

Inaugurating a two-day national seminar on "Social philosophy of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar" organised by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Chair of Gulbarga University here, Prof. Mungekar said even after five decades of Independence, Dalits were yet to get political representation proportionate to their population. Political parties were using Dalits as vote banks instead of empowering them.

Though the caste system still dominated the political scenario and every election was fought on the basis of caste, Dalits, who constituted a quarter of the country's population, had not got their due as they were not being given ticket to contest the elections. Prof. Mungekar said the administrative service continued to be dominated by members of the upper castes. Dalits should insist that all political parties should come out with a separate agenda for their development, he added. Prof. Mungekar said Dalits should attach more importance to education, particularly higher education, and the reservation extended to Dalits in the field of education and politics should be protected. However, privatisation of higher education would leave Dalits at a serious disadvantage. Due to the concept of private universities gaining currency, conventional universities faced the threat of closure. "This is a dangerous development." He said Dalits should be wary of communal forces, which were leading the country towards disaster.

The former Joint Secretary, K. Keshava Raju, in his keynote address said the philosophy of social justice was still a mirage for Dalits and members of the oppressed classes.

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