CM and 3 colleagues attend; Dalit leaders conspicuous by their absence.
The 105th birth anniversary function of country’s prominent Dalit leader and distinguished politician late Babu Jagjivan Ram at Vidhana Soudha on Thursday drew a poor response from the political class. Even those who wear backward class sympathies on their sleeves gave the Banquet Hall function a miss.
About 16 ministers, opposition leaders were invited to the function as chief dignitaries. In addition, 61 MLAs and MLCs were also invited and the names in the invitation ran into five pages.
However, the only people’s representatives who took part in the function at the Banquet Hall were chief minister DV Sadananda Gowda, Kannada & Culture minister Govind Karajol, Social Welfare minister Dr A Narayanaswamy and MLC DS Veeraiah.
Front row seats, usually thronged by netas, wore a deserted look and were later taken over by officials. Opposition leaders Siddaramaiah, Motamma, H Vishwanath, who hail from backward communities, were conspicuous by their absence. Housing minister V Somanna, who was present till late noon in Vidhana Soudha, also did not turn up for the function.
However, the chief minister put up a brave front and managed to win the hearts of those present at the function with his trademark smile and assuring words.
Recalling Jagjivan Ram’s achievements as defence minister (leading Indian forces to victory over Pakistan in 1971 war) and as agriculture minister (ushering in green revolution), Gowda said Ram rose above caste barriers to become a great leader in the country’s history.
He further said that his cabinet colleagues Karajol and Narayanaswamy are in forefront among all others in guiding him regarding various policies of the government. Laying stress on education Gowda said, “Never compromise with the education of your children. You can compromise with anything in your life but, not with education.”
Minister Karajol said the backward classes should strengthen their bond by entering into marriage alliances with various sub-castes among them.
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