SoM

Mysore, Mar 16: Bharatiya Janata Party was converting the country to a nation of the majority community. As a result of that, it was becoming difficult for minorities and dalits to live, Dr. U.R. Ananthamurthy regretted.

Speaking in the valedictory of the two-day national seminar on 'Positive discrimination: Some unexposed dimensions' at Rani Bahadur Auditorium, Manasagangothri, under the auspices of Institute of Development Studies, B.N. Bahadur Institute of Management Sciences, University of Mysore here yesterday, Dr. Ananthamurthy said that the minorities in Karnataka were living in fear. A situation had arisen in the State in which he felt ashamed to identify himself as a resident of Karnataka, he added.

Dalits and minorities were fighting for their self-respect. Men and women of different faiths in Mangalore were scared to converse with one another at present. The State was witnessing the atmosphere that existed in Gujarat. Only those who are in majority were enjoying all the authority. A society of the majority was slowly emerging, he opined.

"I do not subscribe to the view that quality had dipped as a result of reservation. Dalits and minorities, benefited from reservation, have done good work. Kannada literary world has been enriched by dalit writers. They do posses merit in physical terms. Many among them suffer from weakness of intellect. They should be identified and given education. As a result of that effort, the society stands to gain. Instead of fishing in ponds, we should spread the net in the ocean. It will then be possible to bring out the merit in dalits and recognise it," Dr. URA said.

"Muslims have remained backward in all ways. Wherever they are, it has become unavoidable for them to prove their patriotism. It can be said that the reason for that is the style of administration by the BJP," he added.

Prof. V.G. Talwar, Vice-Chancellor, University of Mysore, Prof. Aiahnna, Director, Institute of Development Studies, Prof. V.K. Nataraj, Visiting Professor, were present.