HAVERI: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that the Karnataka government has already recommended twice to the Central government to include the Ambiga community in the Scheduled Tribe list. The community is fully qualified to be included in the ST list and he assured that the clarification requested by the Central government will be provided immediately.
Siddaramaiah was speaking at the inauguration of the 6th Sharana Samskruthi Festival of Nija Sharana Ambigara Choudaiah and the 904th Jayanthotsava of Nija Sharana Ambigara Choudaiah today. “Union Minister Prahlad Joshi should take action regarding the same”, he said, adding that it should not be forgotten that in 1996-97, the late MLA Narayana Rao had strived to add the community to the ST list.
“Boating and fishing is the main occupation of the Ambiga community. There is no such thing as inferior or superior in work. There should be no discrimination between human beings”, he said. “The Basavadi Sharanas fought against those who discriminated based on caste. Ambigara Chowdaiah was one among these who fought against discrimination”, the CM said adding that Basavanna therefore called him ‘Nijasharana’.
Siddaramaiah said that the economic and social empowerment is a must for everyone to realise the dream of equal society. “Ambigara Chowdaiya Development Corporation was established earlier when our government was in power. A society without economic power cannot get into the mainstream. Economic and social empowerment is a must for everyone to realize the dream of an equal society”, he said.
“Basavadi Sharanas has given two principles — Kayaka and Dasoha. Kayaka means production, Dasoha means distribution. This means that everyone should be involved in work and everyone should share the production. No one should enjoy the benefits of someone else’s work. Caste system is not got momentum driven because there is no economic and social activity”, he said adding that the Basavadi Sharanas had called upon to give a momentum to this.
The Chief Minister said that the children should not be deprived of education for any reason. “Walking in the footsteps of Ambigara Chowdaiah is giving our true tributes to him. Jayantyotsava is celebrated to spread his works and ideas to the people. Our children should not be deprived of education for any reason. Inequality in the society should be eliminated. We have to stand against vested interests”, he said.
The CM said there were people who did not want change then and such people still exist. He promised to stand with the backward society. On the same occasion, the CM also read a poem by national poet G S Shivarudrappa about Ambigara Chowdaiah. (ANI)