Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs H.N. Ananth Kumar has criticised Congress Rajya Sabha members for blocking a bill to grant Constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes.
Speaking to mediapersons in Belagavi on Sunday after a planting drive organised by former MLA Abhay Patil, he said that Congress leaders did not want the welfare of backward classes. He was in the city to attend a function in MP Suresh Angadi’s family.
“Back in 1957, Kaka Kalelkar committee suggested setting up of a Backward classes commission that had the backing of the Constitution. Successive government did not do it, but Narendra Modi’s government took it up. However, even after the 124th bill to amend the Constitution has been passed in the Lok Sabha, members of the Rajya Sabha refuse to pass it,” he said. He held Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi responsible for this.
He also blamed Chief Minister and Congress leader Siddharamaiah for remaining silent on the issue. “His claim of being a leader of the backward classes is pretentious. He keeps saying he is committed to the welfare of backward classes. But his actions don’t support those claims,” he said.
He should have either convinced his party’s leaders and legislators to support the amendment bill or should have written a letter objecting to the party’s stand. But, he did neither of this. This shows that Mr. Siddharamaiah is just shedding crocodile tears while claiming to be concerned for the backward classes, Mr. Kumar said.
He also criticised the State government for not showing any interest in resolving the Mahadayi water sharing issue. While former CMs J. H Patel and S.M. Krishna displayed statesmanship, Mr. Siddharamaiah has not done so. He keeps blaming the BJP for everything, Mr. Kumar said.
The CM should request Congress leaders in Goa and Maharashtra to cooperate with the ruling BJP in those States to find a solution to the Mahadayi issue through talks, he said. Mr. Kumar claimed to have spoken to Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis and Goa CM Manohar Parrikar to find amicable solutions through talks, and promised he would speak to them again.
Earlier, at the airport in Sambra, he said the Congress government in the State should have waived crop loans on the lines of Uttar Pradesh. He criticised the Karnataka government of delaying distribution of crop loss relief to farmers despite the Narendra Modi led NDA government releasing ₹4,500 crore.
