Govt will protect 'tainted' KPSC ex-chief: Anjaneya

Social Welfare Minister H Anjaneya once again kicked up a controversy after he said the state government would protect ‘tainted’ former KPSC chairman Gonal Bhimappa.

Speaking at the first meeting of elected representatives belonging to Madiga community on Sunday, Anjaneya openly said the government would take measures to protect Bhimappa, who is facing a CID probe on charges of corruption in the selection of gazetted probationers.

The minister said Bhimappa was like his relative. “The government has protected him (Bhimappa) in the past, and it will do so in future,” he added.

Encouragement to dalits
Stating that all governments in the past have encouraged dalits, the minister said the then government headed by H D Kumaraswamy appointed Bhimappa to the KPSC. “So that a dalit with a humble background was able to occupy such an important post,” he added.

When JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda, who was present on the occasion, said that Bhimappa was now facing the threat of being arrested, Anjaneya said: “We have protected him. There is no need to worry.”

The minister had recently courted controversy by stating that private school managements were worse than those who run brothels.

This apart, Anjaneya said the government will take appropriate decision on implementing the justice A J Sadashiva Commission report on providing internal reservation after obtaining the caste-census report.

Pontiffs of various mutts, including Markandaiah Swami of Adijambava mutt of Chitradurga, Basava Maadarachennaiah Swami of Maadarachennaiah Gurupeetha and Shadakshari Swami of Shaka mutt of Hiriyur, demanded that the Congress should make a Dalit as the chief minister of the State with many of them endorsing Anjaneya for the post.

Markandaiah Swami said H D Kumaraswamy of the JD(S) was the first-time MLA when he became the chief minister. He was able to become the chief minister because of the strong backing of his community.

“If a one-time MLA can become the chief minister, why not Anjaneya be given the post? This can become a reality only if the entire community supports him,” he added.