Karnataka - Gulbarga   

Kharge dismisses charge of being anti-upper caste

Gulbarga: Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly M. Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday said his political opponents were indulging in a vilification campaign against him.

Speaking at the Sharanabhimanigala Samavesha organised by the Veerashaiva leaders owing allegiance to the Congress party at the Veerashaiva Kalyana Mantap here, Mr. Kharge said “a campaign is going on in the Gulbarga Lok Sabha constituency projecting me as a demon and as a castiest and vindictive politician by those who have become jittery over the prospect of losing the Lok Sabha election”.

Mr. Kharge said in his four decade political innings he had never practised vindictive politics and for more than 20 years he was Minister holding different portfolios from Home to Revenue and had never caused harm to anyone leave alone the upper castes.

“For the 38 years I had represented the Gurmitkal Assembly Constituency and let those who are indulging in such vilification campaign that I was a castiest leader who is opposed to the upper castes show one single instance of my vindictive action against the Veerashaivas or any other upper castes”, Mr. Kharge said.

“If a comparison is made of the number of cases booked under the Prevention of Civil Rights (PCR) Act and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Prevention of Atrocities Act in Gurmitkal Assembly Constituency and other 12 Assembly constituencies in the district over the past 38 years, it will prove charges levelled against me are silly”.

He said his opponents were indulging in character assassination and he hoped people of the district will not heed to false campaigns against him and defeat the designs of his opponents. Mr. Kharge listed out different measures he had initiated for the welfare of the Veerashaiva community.

“I was also instrumental for the State Government to give a final nod for the constitution of the Basavakalyan Development Board on the lines of the Kudalasangama Development Board when Mr. Dharam Singh was the Chief Minister”, Mr Kharge said.

He said he was also responsible for sanction of 60 acres of land on a 99-year lease at a lease amount of Rs. 1 per acre per year to Hyderabad Karnataka Education Society.

The former Deputy Chairman of the Legislative Council B.R. Patil told the Veerashaivas that supporting BJP would mean opposing Basaveshwara’s philosophy. Later on, a one-line resolution was passed to support Mr. Kharge in the Lok Sabha elections.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Sharanabhimanigala Samavesha disrupted
Kharge dismisses charge of being anti-upper caste
Scam alleged in purchase of medicine for livestock
BJP urged not to use ‘abusive’ language
Apology demanded
Vedike to support Congress nominees

Copyright © 2009, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu