The issue of a Dalit as CM brought the spotlight back on the Dalits last week. While the Congress debates this issue, the BJP prefers to maintain a stoic silence. Former BSP state president, B. Gopal who is busy travelling across the state to bring Dalits together on a single political platform, has strong views on the subject and spoke about the high level of corruption in the implementation of schemes worth Rs 23000 crores meant for Dalits.
He feels not even half the amount reaches genuine beneficiaries. In an interview with DC, he blames Dalit leaders for weakening the Dalit movements in Karnataka and revealed that a few Dalit leaders in Bengaluru are on the payroll of real estate bigwigs who engage them to clear slums.
Once the slums are cleared, the builders can occupy the space to build big apartments which will eventually be a space for the gated community of upper class people. Excerpts from the interview:
What does a common Dalit think when he or she hears about Dalit CM issue? Does he feel agitated or has he resigned to the fact that social reality will not allow it to happen in the present set-up?
I keep going to the hinterland and on many occasions, I hear Dalits speaking about this issue. A common man wants a Dalit leader to become the chief minister. The post won’t come by begging for it. Long back, Dr B.R. Ambedkar and Kanshiram had said that merely through begging you can’t get everything. Begging can fetch you water and some food. Power will not come, you have to snatch it by force. There are MLAs who should use force and get it.
If people have that feeling, why was it not expressed anywhere?
Recently, the caste census survey report was leaked. The SCs and STs together, constitute 1.6 crore in the state. The problem here is, Dalits are not united and an awakened community. Many Dalit leaders do not behave like evolved ones. In future, if a movement happens, then it is possible. You announce a CM candidate then it is possible to have a Dalit CM.
People should have expressed an opinion now so that the Congress high command can hear it and a Dalit leader can be the CM.
A leader is needed for such work. You have to convince people about this. You have to take the initiative and tell Siddaramaiah that you ruled for three years, now you give the post to a Dalit leader. Leaders should raise the Dalit CM issue in the Legislature party meeting, not outside.
But the fact is there is a fight among touchables and untouchables within Dalits.
Buddha had proved 2300 years ago that there is no caste. Instead of fighting over a non-existent issue, the leaders can share power in turns. Khargeji (Mallikarjun Kharge) is the senior most among all. He can perhaps be considered first for the post. If scheduled tribes are 45 lakh in the state, a leader from that community should also become CM. Muslims who account for nine or ten per cent population should also get a chance.
But elections are a different game. A constituency will have voters from all communities. If all parties field SC or ST candidates, votes get divided..
Yes. Any candidate who wants to contest has to genuinely develop a public persona which is liked by all communities. But, there is a problem. You take the case of Khargeji. He has never disliked any community. He tried to build bridges with all. Other communities haven’t liked him till date so he could not become CM. To overcome this, at least two years before the election, a proper caste combination should be worked out, a leader should be projected as CM and then they should go to polls.
You are only talking about Congress. What about BJP?
They have not developed a Dalit leadership at the top level. At present, it is Lingayat dominated. How will they make a Dalit leader the CM when B.S. Yeddyurappa is leading the party in the elections?
There is a debate that BJP is not a pro-Dalit party. Is there a deliberate effort to keep Dalits away from it?
The BJP does the acting, the mastermind is the RSS or VHP who dislike Dr Ambedkar to the core. They want to discard the Constitution written by Ambedkar. Perhaps, that is why the BJP is not liked by Dalits. According to me, BJP should say that they will have a Dalit CM and fulfil the promise after the polls.
Let them implement reservation in the higher judiciary and reservation among CM posts. Let them respect and honour Dalits in the true sense. Then people will accept BJP too. If you see history, the Congress humiliated Ambedkar the most. In that sense, Congress and BJP are two faces of the same coin.
Moving on, has the present government’s AHINDA programme really changed the life of Dalits?
You go around the state, you will find for yourself. Whatever they claim is not true. Over five lakh people have applied for land grants. You should have given fast track clearance to them. If there is a legal problem bring an amendment to the law. You are giving rice and making them beggars. If you had given land titles, they would have become land owners.
The ruling party feels over 65 per cent of Dalits are with them and no one can challenge them. Is this true?
It is not true. In the next election, this will be proved.
