Bengaluru: They were not just any other guests, but received top notch treatment. And the mood was both homely and festive as state BJP chief, B S Yeddyurappa sat down to a meal at his dining table alongside 33 Dalit families at his Dollars Colony home here on Monday.
Not only did the Lingayat strongman’s daughter, Padmavathi, take charge of the kitchen along with six cooks and servants, but his sons, Raghavendra and Vijayendra too supervised other arrangements, including transport to bring the Dalit families from 31 districts to Bengaluru.
Far from being discouraged by accusations of finding a new love for Dalits with the 2018 state Assembly elections nearing, the state BJP chief did everything but lay out a red carpet to welcome the 102 Dalits to his home.
It was his “thank you” gesture to these families, which had hosted him for breakfast during his tour of the state in May-June this year.
The lunch was a sumptuous spread of puri - sagu, rice, rasam, sambar, two kinds of laya, pulav, two kinds of kosambri, papad, curd, pickle, rice bath, jilebi, payasam, holige, coconut milk and fruit salad
Besides his daughter, Mr Yeddurappa’s diehard supporter and Udupi-Chikamgaluru MP, Shobha Karandlaje, too served the Dalit families along with the party’s women wing president, Bharathi Shetty.
The guests at the lunch included Chitradurga Madara Chennaiah Mutt pontiff, Madara Chennaiah and other BJP leaders. At the end of it the star guests were presented two pairs of dhoti shalya, shirt pieces , two sarees, fruit and sweets each and taken on a bus tour of Bengaluru.
Speaking to the Deccan Chronicle, Ms Padmavathi said she had herself helped cook the food.
“We were lucky to serve food to the Dalit families. It was a festival atmosphere here. We prepared the kind of food that is served during festivals and made enough for 500 guests, including party workers and others,” she revealed.
As for Mr Yeddyurappa, he was at his caustic best, hitting out at Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and KPCC president, Dr. G.Parameshwar for their criticism of his lunch date with the Dalit families. “If Congress leaders have any real love for Dalits, let them have invite them to their residence and host lunch for them,” he challenged, adding that he would continue to visit Dalit mohallas.
“From November I intend to embark on a state tour and visit more Dalit families to hear their grievances,” he declared.
The BJP chief received much praise from Madara Chennaiah swamiji, who advised Dalits not to bother about the comments of Congress leaders against him.
BJP’s Parivarthan rally in November
Former Chief Minister and state BJP president B.S. Yeddyurappa said that party will launch the Parivarthan rally against the state government in the first week of November.
Speaking to reporters here on Monday, Mr Yeddyurappa said the party is yet to decide on inviting national president Amit Shah for the inauguration of the rally. The modalities and the duration of the rally will be finalized after a discussion with party leaders. The former CM also announced that the party has decided to organise ‘Mangaluru Chalo’ rally against the Congress government during which it will demand the resignation of forest minister Ramanath Rai, for failing to handle the law and order situation in Mangaluru city. Besides, the party will organize a series of agitations against the state government with Mr Yeddyurappa set to tour the state in November and December.
