Protesters demand complete ban on Made-Snana, Pankti-Bedha

July 10, 2013

Mangalore, Jul 10: Demanding complete ban on 'Made-Snana' and 'Pankti-Bedha' in Kukke Subramanaya Temple and Udupi Kirshna Mutt, members of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Dalit Rights Committee staged a protest in front of the office of Deputy Commissioner in the city on Tuesday.

Made-Snana is a ritual of people rolling on plantain leaves on which Brahmins have partaken food.

Addressing the protesters, CPM leader Vasanth Achary said that Pejawar seer holds padayatra with Dalits in Dalit colonies. However, discrimination is practiced in Udupi Krishna Mutt while serving meals.

About 168 temples coming under the jurisdiction of Endowment Department have been practicing inhuman practices across the State. The government should initiate measures to stop these practices and withdraw cases filed against all those protesters who had protested against discrimination, in Udupi.

He said the State government should chalk out a law on the model of Andhra Pradesh to implement SC/ST Component Plan and Tribes Sub Plan. The funds earmarked for the welfare of SC/ST should not be lapsed and the budget should set aside funds on the basis of population of SC/STs in the State.

Dalits constitute about 23.65 per cent of the population in the State. Hence, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah should set aside 23.65 per cent of funds under component plan for the welfare of the SC/STs.

The government should release funds for the development of Dalit colonies in the State and civic workers should not be forced to get into manhole to take up cleaning work. The minimum salary of civic workers should be increased to Rs 12,000 per month, to improve their standard of living.

CPM Secretary Sunil Kumar Bajal said that there was a need to strengthen social welfare department to check injustice on Dalits.

Reservation in government sector should be extended to private sector as well.

All those poor Dalits who do not have a roof over their head should be given sites and houses under various housing schemes of the government. Dalit families who do not possess land should be given minimum two acre land, to eke out their living. The scholarship amount given for SC/ST students should be hiked and food allowance for hostel students should be increased in the wake of rise in price of essential commodities.

The protesters urged Chief Minister to include their demands in the budget which will be presented by him on July 12. A memorandum was submitted to the Chief Minister through Deputy Commissioner on the occasion.

DYFI District President Muneer Katipalla, Dalit Rights Committee secretary Lingappa Nanthoor and others were present.

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JD(S) leader G T Devegowda backs CM Siddaramaiah in MUDA row, taunts HDK

News Network

October 4,2024

Mysuru: Chairman of JD(S) core committee and Chamundeshwari constituency MLA G T Devegowda on Thursday expressed his solidarity with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah saying the latter need not resign, while lambasting leaders of his own party and alliance partner BJP, including Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy.

In his speech during Mysuru Dasara inauguration he said that if persons against whom FIR is registered have to resign, many leaders from all the three parties, including Opposition Leader R Ashoka, will have to resign.

“All are sitting in glass houses... Since I know Siddaramaiah well, I am talking about him. At a time when mines and real estate are ruling politics, Siddaramaiah has survived in politics. He has never done any favour,” Devegowda said.

He added, “Allegations against Siddaramaiah are unexpected and accidental. If the Governor and Chief Justice order an investigation, it does not mean that he should resign."

He continued, asking, "Have they told Siddaramaiah to resign or have they asked to imprison him? When a person becomes a Central minister, he or she should realise their dignity and responsibility. Instead of recognising the good work done by Siddaramaiah, they ask him to resign. Will Kumarswamy (facing an FIR) resign? Should Siddaramaiah, who has become CM with a support of 135 MLAs, resign?"

"Opposition leaders are not remembering the good work of earlier CMs Kengal Hanumanthaiah, Veerendra Patil, Ramakrishna Hegde, H D Deve Gowda or S M Krishna. Karnataka is a model state. It is a bad trend to topple an elected government which is doing good work,” he further said.

Devegowda added, “Siddaramaiah is Goddess Chamundeshwari’s ‘Varaputra’ and hence has her blessings during tough times. He won the election in Chamundeshwari Assembly constituency, when the BJP-JD(S) government was in power in 2006. With the blessings of the Goddess, he has held varied positions right from becoming an MLA for the first time in 1983. He presented 15 budgets and has become CM for a second time. He took H C Mahadevappa, a Dalit leader to the state level. Siddaramaiah has the support of Deputy CM D K Shivakumar as ‘Jodeththu’. Blessings of the beneficiaries of guarantee schemes are with him (Siddaramaiah).”

Siddaramaiah said, “Devegowda was a MUDA member. He knows the truth. Hence, he is saying this. His words have filled strength in me. ‘Satyameva Jayate’, Truth will always triumph.”

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