Minister G. Parameshwara, who has completed five years as president of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), on Friday broke down recalling the sufferings and social boycott he had faced from ‘upper’ caste people during schooldays.
Narrating his schooldays’ experience, Dr. Parameshwara, a Dalit leader, said, “Drinking water was inaccessible to me during schooldays.” If he wanted water, someone from the ‘upper’ castes in the village would pour it in a pot from a distance, he said. “This practice is continuing even now in some of villages of the State,” he said.
At a function organised at Palace Grounds to felicitate him for completing five years as the KPCC chief, Dr. Parameshwara said Dalits had been denied justice and access to basic facilities.
“My father used to cut my hair during schooldays as barbers had refused to cut it,” the four-time legislator said.
Dr. Parameshwara, who has a doctorate degree from an Australian university, joined the Congress in the 1980s on an invitation from the former Prime Minister late Rajiv Gandhi.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah felicitated Dr. Parameshwara in the presence of several Cabinet Ministers and a large number of party workers.
The Chief Minister said the party had come to power after nine years in the State largely owing to several programmes launched by Dr. Parameshwara. He said there were no differences between him and the KPCC president.
Mr. Siddaramaiah released a booklet highlighting the achievements of Dr. Parameshwara during the last five years.
