Opponents of law against black magic are communal: Siddaramaiah

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday strongly defended the controversial move to enact a legislation banning inhuman superstitious practices and, hit back at those opposing it by terming them as “communal.”

Speaking after giving away the Kanakashree awards for the years 2012 and 2013, he said: “Those who are opposing it (the proposed legislation) remarked that Siddaramaiah is communal and casteist. But, in reality those who are opposing it are communal.”

He, however, said the government will not take any hasty decision on enacting the legislation and that there should be wide public debate on the issue.  Only a concept paper on banning superstitious practices has been submitted to the government and it is only looking into it. No concrete step was taken in this regard.

“But, a section of people pounced upon us as if we have committed a blunder. There is a need to develop scientific temper among people. There is a need to prevent exploitation of gullible people in the name of superstitious practices,” he stated.

Defends Shaadi Bhagya

The chief minister also defended the controversial scheme, Shaadi Bhagya, saying that the intention of the government is to uplift the oppressed section of society.

“The Constitution says that preferential treatment should be given to the oppressed section in order to bring them to the mainstream. But, vested interests have made it a big issue,” he observed. The scheme was announced in the revised budget 2013-14. Nobody had opposed it then. Now, when the government is taking steps to implement it, people are opposing it, he added.

He hailed Kanakadasa as a social reformer who strived to end the caste system and said that the government will take steps to re-print Dasa Sahitya and make it available to people. Steps will also be taken to translate Dasa Sahitya into other languages and spread Kanakadasa's message across the country.

Kanakashree award for the year 2012 was conferred on K T Chikkanna and that for 2013 on Prof Krishna Kolhar Kulkarni.