Video shows Dalits being asked to serve K'taka CM only branded tea
Bengaluru, Oct 13: The Congress on Thursday shared a video purportedly showing officials instructing a Dalit family to serve only branded and packaged tea powder instead of ordinary tea to Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and BJP leader B S Yediyurappa, among others.
Bommai, Yediyurappa, along with Tourism Minister Anand Singh, Water Resources Minister Govind Karjol and other BJP leaders had breakfast in a house at Kamalapura in Vijayanagara district on Wednesday. Later, the Chief Minister's office shared the picture and videos of their breakfast.
Today, the Congress came up with the video in the twitter handle wherein the officials were purportedly giving instruction to the family even before Bommai and his team reached there.
In the video, an official accompanied by a police sub-inspector is heard saying that they would take the sample.
"... Get 250 grams of...any company's tea. Keep other tea dust separately. Don't use it. Get the company (branded) items," the official is purportedly telling the family in the video.
The video ended showing a local newspaper report, which reported that the officials told the Dalit family to use branded item and not others. Also, the video claimed that only packaged drinking water was served to the Chief Minister and others.
The Congress said this incident exposed the mentality of Sangh Pariwar.
"The real mentality of the Sangh Parivar has been exposed in the Chief Minister's 'Dalit house meal' farce. Meals at Dalits' home had been an insult for the BJP, now it suspects it too. Did the PayCM Basavaraj Bommai entered Dalits' houses to insult Dalits? Is BJP so suspicious of Dalits?" the Congress tweeted.
The PayCM is the Congress coinage accusing the Chief Minister of running a corrupt government where hefty commission is charged for public works.
There was no immediate reaction from the BJP to this tweet.
ಮುಖ್ಯಮಂತ್ರಿಗಳ 'ದಲಿತರ ಮನೆಯ ಊಟ' ಪ್ರಹಸನದಲ್ಲಿ ಸಂಘಪರಿವಾರದ ಅಸಲಿ ಮನಸ್ಥಿತಿ ಅನಾವರಣವಾಗಿದೆ.
— Karnataka Congress (@INCKarnataka) October 13, 2022
ಬಿಜೆಪಿಗೆ ದಲಿತರ ಮನೆಯ ಊಟ ಅವಮಾನಕರವಾಗಿತ್ತು, ಈಗ ಅನುಮಾನಕರವಾಗಿದೆ.
ದಲಿತರನ್ನು ಅವಮಾನಿಸಲೆಂದೇ ದಲಿತರ ಮನೆಗೆ ಹೋದ್ರ #PayCM @BSBommai ಅವರೇ?
ದಲಿತರೆಂದರೆ ಅಷ್ಟೊಂದು ಅನುಮಾನವೇ ಬಿಜೆಪಿಗೆ?#BharatJodoYatra pic.twitter.com/2T5yeXovua
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Caste census will form basis for future policy decision, says CM Siddaramaiah
Mysuru (Karnataka) (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday said that the ongoing caste census would form the basis for future policy decisions, asserting that the exercise was crucial to advancing social justice in the state.
Addressing a gathering at the Siddarameshwara Jayanti celebrations here, he said caste enumeration was being carried out for the first time since 1931 and would be followed by deliberations once the report is submitted.
"At present, a caste census (Jaati Sameekshe) is underway. After the report comes, we will discuss it and take necessary decisions," Siddaramaiah said.
He underlined the government’s commitment to equality, stating, "We are committed to social justice. No one should face injustice. Even if not 100 per cent, we will strive to ensure 99 per cent justice."
Referring to measures aimed at addressing intra-caste disparities, the chief minister said the government had already implemented internal reservation based on revised classifications.
"We have gone beyond the Nagamohan Das report and implemented internal reservation… now it has been revised to 5.25 per cent, 5.25 per cent, and 4.5 per cent. This has been approved by the Cabinet," he said.
Siddaramaiah said the broader objective was to ensure equitable distribution of resources and opportunities, while reiterating that policy interventions would be guided by constitutional principles.
"Our objective is equal share and equal life for all," he said.
He also emphasised the role of education in eliminating inequalities, particularly among marginalised communities, and said empowerment was essential to dismantle entrenched caste hierarchies.
"Only when people gain such empowerment can caste divisions be eradicated. Education is essential for this," he added.
The CM said the government would examine demands raised by various communities and take decisions based on feasibility, while ensuring that benefits reached all sections without discrimination.
