The Hindu : Karnataka / Mysore News : Govt. determined to fight communal forces: Dharam Singh

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Feb 11, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka - Mysore

Govt. determined to fight communal forces: Dharam Singh

By Our Staff Correspondent

MYSORE, FEB. 10. The Chief Minister, N. Dharam Singh, today described the "sea of humanity" assembled to witness the 13th installation anniversary of Kaginele Mahasamsthana Kanaka Guru Peeta pontiff as a sign of political and social assertion by the socially and economically exploited communities.

Speaking after inaugurating a convention to felicitate Sri Beerendra Keshava Tarakanandapuri Swamiji of Kaginele Mahasamsthana Kanaka Guru Peeta, Mr. Dharam Singh referred to the large gathering and said this show of strength by the backward classes indicated the oppression perpetuated on them and is a signal to those who exploited them for centuries and an indication of the changing times.

Political messages

He said such conventions send political messages and underline the emergence of backward castes into the mainstream and described the gathering as a show of unity without which political power and economic salvation will remain a chimera.

Noting that the Kuruba community is the third largest in the State, Mr. Dharam Singh said it has thrown up a galaxy of leaders as a pointer to their growing political clout and influence in the policy and decision-making process.

`Comfortable position'

In this context he praised the performance of the Deputy Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah, who hails from the Kuruba community. Under Mr. Siddaramaiah, tax recovery has increased by 26 per cent and the treasury is in a comfortable position to fund various development works. The coalition Government has proved its detractors wrong and is on a firm footing having delivered more than what its critics expected. The Government is determined to defeat the agenda of communal forces, which are bent on destroying the social and economic fabric of the State, he said.

Delivering the keynote address, the former Minister H. Vishwanath described the programmes associated with the installation anniversary as a celebration of the backward classes and urged them to eschew violence against one another. The Kurubas should be the guardians of human rights of those lower in the traditional social and economic hierarchy, he said and cautioned them against serving the ends of the upper castes by joining the Bajrang Dal, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and others. He praised the Kaginele Maha Samsthana Peeta for its role in disseminating spiritual values.

Sri Murugurajendra Swamiji described the Kaginele Mahasamsthana as the pride of the Kuruba community and recalled the contributions of Kanakadasa towards social equality.

Mr. Siddaramaiah; the Minister for Tourism, D.T. Jayakumar; the Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, H.C. Mahadevappa; the Mysore MP, C.H.Vijayshankar; and some MLAs attended the convention.

Earlier, Sri Beerendra Keshava Tarakanandapuri Swamiji of the Kaginele Mahasamsthana was felicitated to mark the 13th anniversary of his ascending the peeta. At least 50,000 people attended the convention.

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