Caste-based poll surveys criticised

Criticising poll surveys, based on caste statistics, writer H L Keshavamurthy said, such surveys were strengthening the roots of casteism in the state.

Common man, belonging to a certain community, feels that if a person from his ‘community’ is elected leader, his standard of life will improve. But, such feelings are misplaced, he said.

Pointing at Union minister Mallikarjuna Kharge’s statement that he need not be made chief minister based on his caste, he said leaders with such ideals are rare.

Expressing satisfaction over the fact that the BJP-led government’s rule has ended, he said ‘darkness’ had eclipsed the state.

Speaking at a memorial programme on writer and journalist P Lankesh, he stressed on the need to develop the ideals of ‘rationality’ and ‘humanism’ in the contemporary society.

Quoting instances from the life of Lankesh, he said, he was responsible for creating a new generation of scholars and intellectuals.

President of Samatha Vedike Meera Naik and publisher B N Sriram were present.