Responding to the demand from the Opposition for Social Welfare Minister Anjaneya’s resignation, several Dalit groups in Raichur came out in support of the Minister terming him as an efficient leader of the Madiga community.
Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, leaders of Madiga Reservation Horata Samiti, Madiga Dandora, Dalita Sangharsha Samiti, Hyderabad Karnataka Dalita Sangharsha Samiti, Dalita Sangharsha Samithi (Bheemavada), Dalita Sangharsha Samiti (Ambedkarvada) and other groups extended their full support to Mr. Anjaneya and asked him not to step down from his position.
The leaders alleged that Mr. Anjaneya was being victimised with a sting operation on his wife just to divert people’s attention from the Justice A.J. Sadashiva panel report that recommended reallocation of reservation within communities grouped under Scheduled Castes.
“It was Mr. Anjaneya who had consistently been putting pressure on the government to adopt the Justice Sadashiva commission report that recommended reallocation of reservation among SC communities.
“Implementation of the report will rationalise the reservation allocated to SCs and correct the injustice meted out to Madiga community. However, some groups within the SCs such as Holeya, Bhovi, Lambani and other communities are opposing the recommendation on the perception that it would snatch their reservation. Some leaders from these communities hatched a conspiracy to silence Mr. Anjaneya, who was going to raise the issue in the Cabinet meet,” M. Virupakshi, a Dalit leader, told the press.
J.B. Raju, another leader, termed Mr. Anjaneya as an efficient Minister in Siddaramaiah’s Cabinet and a leader representing the aspirations of the Madiga community in the State.
“Mr. Siddaramaiah should not heed to the pressure being mounted by the forces in all parties that are opposed to Sadashiva panel report and are demanding resignation of Mr. Anjaneya. The government would have to face the wrath of the Madiga community, if he is removed from office,” he warned.
He said that no Opposition party had any moral right to seek Anjaneya’s resignation.
