Minister for Revenue V. Srinivas Prasad on Wednesday said in the Legislative Assembly that he would issue orders for providing burial grounds for the Dalits in all the villages and hamlets; if necessary, private land would be acquired for the purpose.
Replying to Govind M. Karjol of the BJP and Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa, Mr. Prasad said it was mandatory for the deputy commissioner to provide land for burial. The debate was on the motion of thanks to the Governor for his address. Mr. Thimmappa suggested that he take up a time-bound programme as the DCs had a tendency to forget such orders. C.S. Nadagouda (Congress) said that the DCs did not buy land as the rate was high.
Mr. Karjol said the police should be provided with sophisticated weapons and vehicles to combat crime and protect the Dalits. He urged that land should be given to hostels and residential schools for the Dalits, and this was supported by B.R. Patil (KJP).
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He wanted to cancel gram panchayat committees which select SC/ST beneficiaries for various programmes. He said it should be headed by the MLA concerned. He urged immediate payment of compensation to the farmers who had lost cattle and distribution of maize instead of rice in north Karnataka. He said wine should be kept out of the purview of the Excise Department, for its development.
The BJP leader wanted immediate appointment of chairmen of 12 academies under the Department of Kannada and Culture.
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The former Speaker K.G. Bopaiah claimed that cattle, especially cows, in Kodagu district were being regularly sent to the slaughterhouses and outside the State. He said the government supplies milk to children and hikes the price of milk, but fails to stop smuggling of cows. He was supported by Appachu Ranjan (BJP).
Mr. Bopaiah alleged that communal clashes were on the rise.