Karnataka   

‘Support of backward communities certain’

The former Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party leader B. Sriramulu inaugurating a party programme in Chitradurga on Tuesday.

Chitradurga: The former Minister B. Sriramulu has expressed confidence that in the coming Assembly elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would win all seats reserved for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

The BJP leader who was touring the State to mobilise support for the State-level Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes convention to be held in Chitradurga on March 31, told the gathering that the State had 16 seats reserved for Scheduled Tribes, while 36 were meant for the Scheduled Castes. “The people of the two communities have realised that the former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa had formulated several welfare schemes for them. They will vote for the BJP,” he said.

Mr. Sriramulu criticised the Congress for treating the backward communities as a “vote bank” in the elections. The Congress, in its five-decade-long regime at the Centre, had “shortchanged” the community, and had never made a sincere effort to ensure their progress, he alleged.

Mr. Sriramulu said that during the previous Congress Government in the State, the party had reserved only Rs. 2,000 crore for the welfare of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, but Mr. Yeddyurappa as Finance Minister had allocated over Rs. 4,000 crore for the purpose. “This gesture shows the commitment of the BJP towards their advancement,” he said.

He said the objective of the party was to see Mr. Yeddyurappa installed as the next Chief Minister of the State and L.K. Advani as Prime Minister. The former Minister Tippeswamy urged BJP State vice-president and MP G.M. Siddeshwar to raise the issue of Scheduled Castes’ and Scheduled Tribes’ welfare in Parliament. He appealed to him to find out how much funds had been earmarked by the Union Government for their welfare, and how they were being put to use.

With regard to the convention, Mr. Tippeswamy said it was aimed at highlighting the plight of the backward communities and also to apprise people of the welfare measures taken by the BJP.

Mr. Siddeshwar said that in recent days, several leaders of major political parities such as the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular) had joined the BJP, which had helped boost the morale of party workers. Referring to the induction of Mr. Tippeswamy into the party, he said his admission had strengthened the base of the party in the district. He felt confident that the party would win all the six Assembly seats in district in the coming elections.

District and taluk-level leaders were present.

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