A question raised by MLC Kota Srinivas Poojary on the “two-tumbler system”, practised in some eateries in Sosaganahalli in Gauribidanur taluk, led to a debate in the Legislative Council on the issue of untouchability.
Raising the issue during call attention motion, Mr. Poojary said Dalits in a village were served coffee in plastic tumblers and barbers refused to cut their hair in the same village. He sought to know what action the government had taken against those responsible for it.
Minister for Social Welfare H. Anjaneya, in response, held forth on continued discriminatory caste practices and mentioned instances of them reported from other parts of the State. He said his own grandfather, a freedom fighter and much revered, had to suffer the ignominy of carrying his own tumbler in his pocket.
Mr. Poojary, unhappy with the response, said that he was asking a specific question on a specific incident and generalised statements were unnecessary. “What do we do when the Minister himself starts complaining?” he said, while appreciating the Minister’s concern.
‘Deviation from point’MLC V.C. Ugrappa’s intervention at this point, narrating an incident of blood donation between people of different castes, was also objected to by the members as deviating from the specific query.
Mr. Anjaneya promised to visit Sosaganahalli if the situation was still not set right, and promised to take action.
