Revanna provoking Vokkaligas against dalits: Organisations

Levelling allegations against MLA H D Revanna, dalits and members of other organisations staged a protest near the Deputy Commissioner’s office, in Hassan, on Thursday.

They claimed that Revanna was trying to take revenge against Dalits in connection with the Sigaranahalli temple entry row, for political gains. The violence that erupted after the Dalits entered Basaveshwara temple, has turned into a serious issue. Revanna is responsible for it, they said.

The protesters claimed that people belonging to upper class assaulted dalits, due to the failure of the district administration in tackling the issue. The administrative machinery has failed in punishing the guilty, they added.

The agitators claimed, they had urged the authorities concerned to provide an opportunity to enter the temple and also necessary security, well in advance.

 “Though police personnel were deputed, people belonging to the upper class threw stones at them and also assaulted them. A few journalists were also injured in the melee. Revanna is provoking the Vokkaliga community against Dalits, in an effort to reap political benefits,” they alleged.

They did not spare even the Congress government. The party, which claims to be Dalit-friendly has exhibited its inability to tackle the Sigaranahalli issue. In spite of the violence, neither Home Minister Parameshwara nor Social Welfare Minister H Anjaneya have visited the village, they complained.

They demanded a high-level probe into the issue and punishment for the guilty. Legal action should be taken against MLA H D Revanna. The miscreants, who torched the portrait of Dr Ambedkar in Arakalgud taluk, should be arrested, they stressed.