A Dalit leader should become CM of Karnataka, says Parameshwara

Hassan, Apr 30: Home Minister and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president G. Parameshwara, on Friday, reiterated that a Dalit leader should become Chief Minister (CM) of the State.

Speaking at the Dr. B.R. Ambedkar's 125th birth anniversary programme organised in Sakleshpur, he said that the demand for a Dalit CM?is only to prove the capability of the deprived class.

“I never said that I should become CM. Either Mallikarjun Kharge, Srinivas Prasad or anyone else should, for that matter,” he said.

The issue of a Dalit leader becoming Chief Minister had been raked up many times in the past.

However, he said, nothing will change at once if a Dalit becomes a CM. However, such a move can be an opportunity for Dalits to show the world that they can govern well too,” Mr. Parameshwara said.

Recalling various incidents in his life, Parameshwara said, “I?am proud of being a Dalit. I took every insult in my life as a challenge and thus attained this status.”

Further, he questioned the rationale behind referring to Dalits as backward classes'. “When will Dalits be taken off the list of backward classes,” he asked.

JD(S) MLA?H?K?Kumaraswamy,?in his presidential address said, except Congress, all political parties in the state have announced their CM?candidate. “I have no faith that a Dalit from JD(S) can become a CM. At the most, I?could become a minister but not the CM,” he said.