3-day global meet on social justice

The state government has organised a three-day international conference “Reclaiming Social Justice, Revisiting Ambedkar” from July 21 at GKVK campus in Bengaluru.

Organised to mark the 126th birth anniversary of B R Ambedkar, around 2,000 delegates from across the globe are expected to participate. Human rights activist Martin Luther King III is scheduled to inaugurate the conference, while Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi will be the chief guest. The conference is a coming together of all progressive forces committed to safeguarding the constitutional idea of India, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah told reporters.

Around 300 speakers, including academics, activists and policy-makers, will share their thoughts at the conference. Cornel West, Lord Bhikhu Parekh, Prof Samuel Myers, Lawrence Simon and Prof Ramachandra Guha are among the prominent speakers. Over a dozen Congress leaders, including Shashi Tharoor, Mallikarjun Kharge, K Raju, Jairam Ramesh and Mani Shankar Aiyar, will also speak at the conference.

He said the conference is being organised at a time when “regressive forces” have been systematically attacking the idea of India and destroying the pluralistic fabric of the nation. “So, it is important to study why and how marginalised groups are discriminated against or excluded. The conference is a step in this direction. Efforts will also be made to form a powerful alliance of equity,” he added.

Besides, he said the state government will launch what he called “Bengaluru Declaration”, outlining specific constitutional, institutional and policy responses to the concerns of equity, human rights, freedom and democracy on the occasion.