Karnataka CM touring drought-hit areas, my dharna can wait: HD Deve Gowda

Hassan: Former Prime Minister and Hassan Lok Sabha member H.D. Deve Gowda on Sunday announced that he had postponed his dharna in front of the Chief Minister’s residence in Bengaluru which was scheduled on April 28.

He had demanded a judicial probe into Sigaranahalli issue involving a Dalit woman, Tayamma, who had expressed fears that her life was in danger, and had announced that he would go on a dharna to press for his demand. Citing reasons for postponement, Mr Gowda said CM Siddaramaiah is currently visiting drought-hit areas of the state.

“Let him continue his study of areas which are drought-hit and take steps to provide water to the affected people first,” he said, adding, “Staging a dharna in such a scenario would send a wrong message to society.”

Mr Gowda is said to have written to Mr Siddaramaiah and Home Minister Dr G Parameshwar asking for suitable action on the Sigaranahalli incident after Tayamma was driven out of a shrine by upper caste Hindus.