CM's intervention sought in row over dalit cook

Bahujan Samaj Party State unit president N Mahesh has demanded that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah directly intervene to resolve the mounting controversy involving upper caste students and dalits at the Government Higher Primary School in Kuppegala taluk, Mysuru district.

Speaking to reporters here on Friday, Mahesh said that he was disappointed to learn that Siddaramaiah and Social Welfare Minister H Anjaneya did not visit Kuppegala on December 2, even though they attended programmes organised at Varuna constituency, which is represented by the chief minister.

“The chief minister is taking a very laissez-faire approach to the issue. He should have dined with students at the school to prove his stand,” he said, adding that Siddaramaiah is solely responsible for the mounting row that has transcended boundaries, reaching the National Commission for Scheduled Castes.

He urged the chief minister to visit the village and make efforts to set up a separate burial ground for dalits.

“The issue can be resolved only by the chief minister,” he said.

Responding to queries, Mahesh said the hands of deputy commissioner C Shikha and SP Abhinav Khare were tied as their action depended on the chief minister’s orders.
Mahesh felt that such issues in particular would create a feeling of discrimination among students at the school.

Leaders eat midday meals

In an attempt to mend ties, two prominent leaders belonging to upper class at Kuppegala consumed midday meals along with students at the Government Higher Primary School at the village in Mysuru taluk.

Taluk Panchayat member Mahendra and School Development Monitoring Committee (SDMC) member Puttaswamy Gowda ate food along with the 115 of the total 150 students who attended the school on Friday.

The remaining 35 students stayed away from the school.

The duo, along with the authorities concerned at the school, decided to end the stalemate as soon as possible after taking all the aggrieved parties into confidence.