Call it an election gimmick or a real concern for the deprived. lingayat strongman and state BJP president BS Yeddyurappa is going to host 33 Dalit families from across the state for lunch on August 28. For Yeddyurappa it’s a return gift and concern as he had breakfast with them when he toured the state as part of his Jan Sampark Abhiyan.
He has invited them to his posh home at RMV extension in Bengaluru a gesture seen as a move to appease Dalits ahead of assembly polls which is crucial for both the BJP and the ruling Congress.
A Press release issued by BJP in Bengaluru confirmed this and stated” Having invited them for lunch on August 28, Yeddyurappa will be hosting them at his home in Dollars Colony. He will be welcoming the Dalit brethren” with great affection at his home, have an informal chat with them, serve them lunch and “personally” see them off”.
However the ruling congress was quick to react and ridiculed his food politics and said “ it is just a gimmick not out of any love for the dalits.” The congress also said it was an opportunistic politics.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah came down on Yeddyurappa and said Yeddyurappa’s new found love for Dalits is nothing more than opportunism.
BJP Chief Yeddyurappa had got into a controversy earlier this year when he allegedly ate idlis at a Dalit family’s home got it from a hotel.
Senior Dalit leader and state Congress President G Parameshwara, was very sarcastic and chided the move as food politics. He said “”By inviting Dalits to his home, Yeddyurappa must be thinking that it a great achievement. When he was in power, Yeddyurappa never invited any Dalit family to his home but is showing this sudden affection now.” He went on to chide Yeddyurappa by questioning whether the food he will serve will be from a nearby hotel or home cooked.
After the visit of national president Amit Shah, the state BJP is going in full throttle to take on the congress led by Siddaramaiah who is playing the appeasement politics to the hilt. BJP which is banking on Yeddyurappa to garner a win has leaving no stone un turned as an opportunity. As a new policy after the experiment in UP, the BJP has started luring Dalits to its fold in Karnataka. They have also talking about making Congress Mukth Karnataka to enter South in a big way.