HASSAN: Home minister and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president Dr G. Parameshwar on Friday kept the debate over a dalit taking over as Chief Minister of the state alive, saying central leaders of Congress would make an assessment of the demand for such a move and take an appropriate decision.
Dr Parameshwar told reporters at Sakleshpur, where he attended Dr Ambedkar Jayanti celebrations, “I do not have a feeling that the party high command is not doing anything on the issue of a dalit becoming a Chief Minister,” adding “I do not believe that by a dalit becoming a Chief Minister, it does not mean that there would be massive transformation in the society. But, it would give an opportunity for a dalit to serve the society and prove that even dalits are capable of running the administration.”
He clarified that “I have never said that I want to become the Chief Minister but dalit leaders such as Revenue Minister Srinivas Prasad and Congress leader in the Lok Sabha M. Mallikarjun Kharge can become Chief Minister.” Dr Parameshwar said, “I have kept quiet on this debate out of embarrassment, but others will not sit quiet.”
