Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s largesse to SC /ST dairy farmers has come into severe criticism. The issue of Karnataka Government’s proposal to increase incentives from Rs 4 to Rs 6 to SC /ST dairy farmers created pandemonium in the ongoing Assembly session on Monday. The BJP members led by its leader in the House Jagadish Shettar was vocal in protesting the appeasement politics of the Government led by Siddaramaiah. Raising the issue Shettar said the Government was creating a wedge among people, specially dairy farmers by providing an additional incentive to SC and ST dairy farmers.
He said, “Providing monetary incentive based on a person's caste is obnoxious step. Instead, government should think of alternative means to economically empower SC and ST dairy farmers."
Shettar said, “We are not against the Government empowering SC and ST people. It can extend the incentive to all dairy farmers irrespective of their communities."
Replying to leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah justified Government’s move to increase the incentives to SC/ST dairy farmers. He said government was not dividing the communities on caste basis.
He said, “Infact, it is the BJP which divides people on the basis of caste and religion. Congress does not do that. BJP is anti-Dalits and anti-minority."
His remarks provoked BJP with its members and those from Treasury benches locked in a verbal duel, causing pandemonium. Amidst ruckus, former Minister Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri (BJP) said, "If the Congress is really pro-Dalits and concerned about their welfare, it should make Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President G Parameshwara as the Deputy Chief Minister."
"The Congress is not ready to make Parameshwara the Deputy Chief Minister and yet it claims to be pro-Dalits. How fair is thatIJ” questioned Kageri, which further heated the debate.