DH News Service

GULBARGA, Sept 18: The Karnataka Dalit Sangarsha Samithi (Mavalli Group) today stated here that the Samithi members would hold a dharna in front of Social Welfare Minister Kagodu Thimappa's residence in Bangalore from October 15, if their demands were not met by then.

Speaking to press persons here today, KDSS State Organising Convenor S R Kollur stated that it was almost 15 days since they had withdrawn the indefinite strike undertaken in Gulbarga putting forth certain demands. He said, only their demand of bringing back Mr Kademani as the district social welfare officer had been conceded after they met Home Minister Mallikarjun Kharge, he added.

Their other demands included compensation of Rs two lakh to the family of the woman who was paraded naked at Onenur village in Bellary District, a house for her at Bellary, and a job to one of her family members and an inquiry against former district social welfare officer S S Hiremath and taluk social welfare officer Mr Jadav. He stated that, Gulbarga Zilla Panchayat President Allamprabu Patil (Nelogi) had visited the dharna site, and only after promising that the zilla panchayat would pass a resolution of ordering an inquiry against Mr Hiremath and Mr Jadav, the indefinite hunger strike was withdrawn. But, the last zilla panchayat meeting failed to pass the resolution, and this is highly condemnable, he added.

Regarding the Onenur incident, Mr Kollur said, the State government had promised to give a compensation of Rs two lakh to the family of the victim, but, till today only Rs 50,000 has been paid. He said, Mr Kharge had told him that the other demands of a house and a job would be discussed at the Cabinet meeting on September 20. "But, if the demands are not met, they would hold the dharna," he threatened.

Mr Kollur also criticised the Veerashaiva Employees Associ-ation for holding a protest against an allegedly corrupt official Mr Hiremath, and for charging Mr Kharge for practicing caste politics. Mr Kollur was also for an amendment to the Constitution to see that the interests of the SC/ST were protected. Demanding this, the KDSS planned a protest before the houses of all the SC/ST MPs in the country, he added.