From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Vijayanagara, Feb 5: Former chief minister from Congress, Siddaramaiah vows to continue fighting for social justice and bow down before justice but asserted that he would fight bullies and cannot be cowed down by anybody.
“I know how to fight and am ready to face anybody,’’ he declared, addressing a function in Vijayanagara, after declaring open the Yatri Nivas building at Sukshetra Mailara in Hadagali taluk of Vijayananagara district on Sunday.
The Congress opposition leader in the assembly said thousands of pilgrims and tourists visit the place and the Swamiji has taken the initiative of constructing a yatra nivas, which was very necessary.
He said his government had sanctioned 4 acres of land for establishing IAA/IPS Coaching Centre and had even allocated funds for construction the building. It was the Congress government which had constituted the Mailaralinga Development Authority and had taken steps for developing Sangolli Rayanna and Nadagadh centres. The Congress government had allotted 100 acres of land for starting the Sangolli Rayanna Sainik School with a grant of Rs 262 crore.
“The people of the area are aware of the contribution of the Congress party for the development of the region,” he said challenging those from BJP who are asking about the contribution of Congress and Siddaramaiah.
“I am not bothered about these kind stupid people who are asking about my contributions and service. I have never stuck to power and have tasted victory and defeat. Even when I lost, I have not sat quietly at home and had continued my fight for social justice,” he said declaring that he cannot be frightened by anybody and cannot be bullied.
Referring to Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai’s promise to give the Scheduled Tribe tag for the backward Kuruba community and said Bommai cannot do anything as the work has to be done by the Centre.
“He (Bommai) is simply bluffing and fooling the people,’’ he said and mentioned that his government had already sent a formal recommendation to include Kurubas, Gondas and Rajagondas of Yadgir, Kalaburgi, Bidar and Kodagu as STs. Let him (Bommai) go before Modi and demand that the recommendation must be implemented if he is really serious,’’ he said pointing out that the Bommai government must first pressurize the Centre to bring a constitutional amendment instead of making empty promises before the people.
Siddaramaiah said Bommai government is trying to hoodwink the SC and ST communities by promising to increase their quota by 3% to 7% without ensuring that the Modi government brings in a constitutional amendment. “I have seen people trying to fool others by applying ghee on the noses but Bommai is going a step further by applying ghee on the forehead to show how delicious the food is,’’ he said all that the BJP should do is bring a constitutional amendment.
“If the Modi government can implement the 10% reservation to economically weaker sections among the forward castes by getting the bill passed in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha in a couple of days. In the same way, let the Bommai government fulfill all its reservation promises if it has the will power,’’ he said urging the Swamijis and other community leaders to mount pressure on the government collectively.
Siddaramaiah said he had travelled the entire State and had taken steps to celebrate 500th Kanaka Jayanti in a grand manner. He also pointed out that the Kuruba community does not have its own Gurupeeth and he had taken the initiative to establish the Gurupeeth along with other leaders.
“We had travelled the entire state and all districts except Maagaluru and Udupi and had organised a meeting in Shivamogga, which was attended by BJP leader K S Eshwarappa and had promised to give his contribution at the next meeting. But he remained absent. Even if he did not want to give money, he should have at least attended the community programme. The Gurupeeth of the community was inaugurated by the then Defence Minister Sharad Pawar,’’ he said.