Nobody can stop us from discussing Dalit issues, says Mahadevappa

Bengaluru: Social Welfare Minister Dr H C Mahadevappa, a close aide of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, said on Thursday that “nobody can stop us” from discussing issues concerning Dalits.

Mahadevappa also wondered why Congress general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala asked Home Minister G Parameshwara to postpone a dinner meet-up of SC/ST ministers scheduled on Wednesday.

“Dalit issues will be discussed always. We were, are and will keep discussing them. Who’s there to say that we shouldn’t discuss Dalit issues? Nobody can stop us. We won’t listen to whoever says we shouldn’t,” Mahadevappa, a Dalit, said. 

Political speculation

The postponement of Wednesday’s dinner meet-up has annoyed SC/ST ministers in Congress. The high command was worried about optics after a dinner meeting Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had with Ministers Mahadevappa, Satish Jarkiholi, Parameshwara and K N Rajanna earlier this month caused political speculation. 

On Wednesday, Rajanna was so upset that he asked if the Congress high command was anti-SC/STs. 

Mahadevappa said the Congress had organised an SC/ST convention in Chitradurga ahead of the 2023 Legislative Assembly election.

“That resulted in Congress winning 135-136 seats. Dalits are the base of Congress. So, I don’t think anybody will come in the way (of discussing Dalit issues),” Mahadevappa said.

“We should ask why Surjewala got (Wednesday’s) meeting postponed,” he added. 

The minister, however, maintained that there was no confusion within the Congress. 

Earlier in the day, Parameshwara also maintained that there was no confusion in the party.

He said the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting will be held on January 13. “The agenda is still not known. There’s no confusion. Where’s the confusion?” he said. 

To a question on whether the dinner meet-up plan had caused anxiety among a section of Congress leaders, Parameshwara said: “Who caused anxiety to whom? I don’t know. As far as I know, no one is anxious and there’s no need for it. Have we ever said the meeting will be organised outside the party forum?”