Dalit leaders vent ire against CM, son

A meeting with the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes leaders, convened by Dr Yathindra, son of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, had to be called off midway as the participants were not ready to listen to him and sought an opportunity to air their grievances.

The participants from Varuna and Chamundeshwari Assembly constituencies in the meeting, held at a private hotel, in the city, on Tuesday, raised uncomfortable questions, creating commotion for some time.

The leaders expressed displeasure against both Siddaramaiah and Dr Yathindra. "You people remember us only when election approaches. When we need your help, nobody is available at your house. Without helping us in any way, now you want us to vote for you. You treat us as mere voters, nothing more," they complained.

"Even while issuing benefits to the SC and ST community people, the beneficiaries are the same set of people. For others, no loan or financial assistance is extended, despite numerous and repeated applications to the department concerned," they said.

The Dalit leaders sought an opportunity for every aggrieved person in the hall to air their complaints.

The efforts of Dr Yathindra and a few others to pacify the participants failed. So, the meeting had to be called off.