Sparks fly over LS aspirants getting false caste certificates

Such misuse has happened only in the BJP, charges Anjaneya

BJP leaders arguing with Minister for Social Welfare H. Anjaneya at Legislative Council session, in Bangalore on Monday. Photo: K. Bhagya Prakash

Sparks flew in the Legislative Council on Monday between Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party members and Minister for Social Welfare H. Anjaneya following the latter’s charge that some BJP leaders were getting false caste certificates to contest in the Lok Sabha polls from constituencies reserved for Dalits.

The heated exchange took place when Mr. Anjaneya was replying during Question Hour to R.K. Siddaramanna (Bharatiya Janata Party) on an issue related to people using similar sounding names of Scheduled Castes to acquire the SC certificate.

Intervening during the reply, another BJP leader K.B. Shanappa observed that there were indeed politicians using similar sounding names to get SC certificate to contest from constituencies reserved for Dalits.

Responding to this, Mr. Anjaneya said he was aware of this. “But such misuse has happened only in the BJP,” he said.

This enraged the BJP members, who demanded that Mr. Anjaneya withdraw his charge.

Sadananda’s reaction

Leader of the Opposition D.V. Sadananda Gowda said if Mr. Anjaneya’s charge was true, he should initiate disciplinary action against the officials who give the false caste certificates to the BJP leaders.