The constitutional right of providing equal opportunities for all communities still remains distant dream for the oppressed sections of society, said M. Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha, here on Friday.
He was speaking at the birth anniversary celebrations of B.R. Ambedkar at Mogha village in Chincholli taluk in Kalaburagi district. Mr. Kharge said that even after six decades of Independence, Dr. Ambedkar’s dream to provide equal opportunities for all communities has remained unfulfilled. In most villages across the country untouchability is in practice till now.
Mr. Kharge expressed his displeasure over identifying Dr. Ambedkar as a Dalit leader. “It is an insult to achievements of Dr. Ambedkar, the architect of Indian Constitution, who gave himself to the nation, irrespective of caste,” he said.
Taking strong exception to the controversial Ghar Wapasi programme initiated by the Sangh Parivar organisations, he said every individual has absolute liberty to embrace any religion. Mr. Kharge also criticised the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre for making attempts to make Bhagwat Gita the national holy text. This would go against the secular principles enshrined in the Constitution, he said. Chincholi MLA Umesh Jadav, Congress MLC Allamprabhu Patil, the former minister Vaijnath Patil, Kailashnath Patil and veteran Dalit leader Shivaram Moga were present.
