Prakash Ambedkar, grandson of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, on Friday urged Dalits in the State not to let BJP and RSS leaders into their houses and offer food to them until Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP national president Amit Shah apologise for the recent actions of the former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa.
Mr. Yeddyurappa and other party leaders landed in a controversy after allegedly eating food brought from hotels while claiming to eat in the homes of Dalits during a tour of districts.
Mr. Ambedkar, founder of Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh, was taking part in the city to participate in “Save Constitution, Save Country”, a programme organised by Dalita Swabhimana Sangharsha Samiti. Mr Ambedkar lashed out at Mr Yeddyurappa for not eating food prepared by a Dalit and instead ate food brought from a hotel.
Referring to Mr. Yeddyurappa’s clarification that food was limited at the Dalit’s home and therefore ordered from outside, Mr. Ambedkar said Mr. Yeddyurappa could have eaten the food cooked at the Dalit’s home while the hotel food could have been given to others who accompanied him.
If Dalits have self respect, they should immediately stop BJP and RSS leaders from visiting their homes, he said. He said “half the Congress is dead” and none of its leaders were speaking openly against Mr. Modi. “No leader in the party is ready to speak as they fear trouble to them if they speak against Modi. Modi has created fear among the Congress leaders,” he maintained.
