JOIN US'Veerashaiva body, Vedic brain and no heart'
“If such a government thinks the reality that I point out about backward communities is politically motivated, then I cannot do anything about it,” he quipped.
He was making his remarks after inaugurating a seminar on nomadic dalit communities organised by Kannada and Culture Department and Kannada Sahitya Academy at Adima Samskruthika Sanghatane in Theralli Betta.
“Criticising the government in this manner can cost me my post. But I am prepared for it,” he said and pointed that the Commission has not had a full-time member secretary and seven have been changed in the past two years.
He also expressed his disappointment that the Rs 21.5 crore grant sanctioned by the Centre in 2005 for conducting the backward class survey was yet to be undertaken.
2A for Sadar Lingayats
On the issue of including Sadar Lingayats under category 2A, Dwarakanath said: “When deputy commissioners of Davangere, Haveri, Gadag and Shimoga asked the Principal secretary of the Social Welfare Department for clarification on this issue, instead of saying that it cannot be done since they were not included in the backward communities list, the principal secretary said Hindu Sadars can be included.”
Dwarakanath said the decision to include Veerashaiva Sadars in 2A will amount to injustice to hundreds of others castes included in the category.
“It is not right to hold me responsible saying as the president of the Commission I should have clarified the issue, since the government did not discuss this with the Commission before issuing the clarification letter to the deputy commissioners,” he maintained.
Dwarakanath went on to add that if the government was really concerned about the welfare of backward classes it would have said the department would stop issuing caste certificates under 2A to Veerashaiva Sadars and would recall all the certificates that have already been issued. “But this has not been the case. The government has created all this confusion for the benefit of the Sadar community,” he alleged.
Dwarakanath recalled that an in charge secretary was made to issue a similar order last year and was later suspended. This year, the government is getting the principal secretary himself to issue such an order, he said.
“The Commission is not against any caste, but will not tolerate affluent castes snatching benefits meant for the backward classes,” he added.