Karnataka Silk Industries Corporation (KSIC) Chairman D. Basavaraj has alleged that Governor Vajubhai Vala has insulted the Dalits in the State by declining to give assent to the ordinance on reserving a percentage of construction works for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (SC/STs) in various government departments.
Addressing reporters here on Sunday, he stated that the Congress had taken the decision as per its poll manifesto to ensure equal opportunities to each community in the State to grow.
“Since SC/STs are 24 per cent in the total population of the state, the state government had decided to provide them 24 per cent reservation to them for the works below Rs 50 lakhs works,” he said.
By declining to give assent to the ordinance, the Governor has proved his ‘anti-Dalit’ stand.
“Being in a responsible position, the Governor should promote every community in the State equally and try to uphold democratic values,” he added.
Mr. Basavaraj also stated that the Congress would launch a Statewide agitation if the Governor failed to pass the ordinance as early as possible.
Vala accused
Ballari Special Correspondent reports:
Lakshminarayan Nagwar, convenor of the State Dalit Sangharsha Samiti, has accused Mr. Vala of adopting an anti-Dalit stand by not giving his assent to the ordinance.
Addressing presspersons here on Sunday, Mr. Nagawar said that the State government had passed an ordinance in this regard to ensure social justice.
The Governor’s action has come as a blow to the concept of social justice.
“The action of Governor Vajubhai Vala has also brought to the fore the double standards of the BJP with Prime Minister Narendra Modi giving pro-Dalit statements while Mr. Vajubhai Vala depriving them (Dalits ) of their rights,” he observed.
He said that his organisation would pressure the State government to send the proposal again and would also meet the Governor to explain the importance of the ordinance and prevail upon him to give his assent. If not an agitation would be launched.
‘Congress will launch a Statewide agitation if the Governor fails to sign the ordinance’
