Kalaburagi: Veteran Congress leader, Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday agreed to try and persuade the state government to implement the Sadashiva commission report, which has recommended internal reservation among the scheduled castes, but cautioned that this would not be the panacea for all their ills.
Addressing a convention organised by the Madiga community, Mr Kharge, who is eyeing another term in parliament from Kalaburagi, denied that he was against it as alleged. “The injustice done to them has to be set right by finding the right remedy. Let us all work together and shoulder equal responsibility. I cannot commit to this however, as that would amount to a violation of the code of conduct,” he said.
The convention, organised by community leaders loyal to Mr Kharge was intended to demonstrate its support for the Congress and to counter the call given last week by leaders of two major organisations, the Madiga Dandora Horata Samiti and Madiga Meesalati Horata Samiti, to vote against Mr Kharge owing to his alleged opposition to the implementation of the Sadashiva Commission report.
Speaking on the occasion, Rajya Sabha member, Dr L Hanumanthaiah, refuted the claim that Mr Kharge was opposed to the report. “It’s a canard spread by his opponents. Mr Kharge was a senior minister in the SM Krishna government, which constituted the commission. And as primary education minister in the Urs government, he was the first to fill the backlog of vacancies. He has always backed efforts to develop our community and we should support him.,” he insisted, stressing “There is a need to demonstrate that the untouchables stand solidly behind him.”
