Congress committed to social justice, says CM Siddaramaiah
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday asserted that the Congress remains firmly committed to social justice, both in principle and in practice.
“The Congress is a party committed to social justice. This ideological commitment has been demonstrated not merely through words but through action,” the CM said in a statement, underlining that the party has consistently translated its philosophy into governance. He said his recent article marking Social Justice Day has sparked debate.
Defending the piece, he said, “An article I wrote for a newspaper as part of Social Justice Day celebrations has sparked multifaceted debate in the state’s political circles. If water remains stagnant, it turns into slush; if it flows, it becomes clearer.”
“The social system is similar - if it does not remain rigid and instead becomes dynamic, it transforms in a people-centric manner. From this perspective, I welcome the discussion surrounding my article,” he added.
Stating that his commitment to social justice is longstanding, the CM said, “Whether in power or out of it, my stand in favour of social justice has remained unwavering. I have greater clarity about the caste system among us than the politicians criticising me.”
“I am prepared for a public debate on this issue,” Siddaramaiah added.
Responding to criticism from Union Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) leader H D Kumaraswamy, he said, “I have taken his allegation - that I have ‘dragged caste into the picture for the sake of a chair’ - lightly.”
Launching a sharp attack on JD(S) patriarch and former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda and his family, Siddaramaiah added, “Kumaraswamy and his revered father Deve Gowda are certainly not casteists; they are against their own caste. More importantly, they are family-centric. For them, caste is merely a vote bank.”
He alleged that past, present, and future top JD(S) leaders would always be members of the Gowda family, questioning how many Vokkaliga leaders the party had nurtured during Deve Gowda’s long political career. The CM maintained that it was the Congress that had identified and politically groomed Vokkaliga leaders.
