GULBARGA, Aug 31: Condemning the naked parade of a Dalit women at Venur village in Bellary district, and demanding the cancellation of the transfer of district social welfare officer, the members of Karnataka Dalit Sangarsh Samithi (KDSS) began an indefinite hunger strike in front of the deputy commissioner's office here today.

Addressing the people at the dharna site here today, KDSS State Organising Convenor Shivayogi R Kollur charged that Dalit officers were not safe in the S M Krishna Government, and that they were being transferred overnight. He said, even though the State Government had assured that there would be no reversion of SC/ST officials who had earlier been promoted on roster basis, yet the Government had resorted to reverting the officials in the wake of the December 1, 2000, judgment regarding reservation in promotion.

Chief Minister S M Krishna had stated that any official coming to him for transfers would be immediately suspended. But without any reason, his Government was transferring Dalit officials, Mr Kollur charged. He said, Gulbarga District Social Welfare Officer B A Kademani, a Dalit official, had been transferred just 15 days after he assumed office in Gulbarga.

Mr Kollur charged that, previous social welfare officer S S Hiremath, who was on deputation from the Education Department, held the post for nearly four years. In these four years, he said, Mr Hiremath had turned the department into a den of corruption. Under the term of Mr Hiremath, many scandals had been unearthed in the social welfare department, especially in the running of the SC/ST hostels in the district, he added.

The Dalits in the district has heaved a sigh of relief when Mr Hiremath was transferred 15 days ago, and Mr Kademani was appointed in his place. But suddenly on August 29, Mr Kademani was transferred just 15 days after assuming office, and Mr Hiremath was brought back. This clearly showed that Dalit officials were being harassed in the State, while corrupt officials had a say with the political leaders, he added.

Thereby, demanding the State Government to appoint Mr Kademani as the district social welfare officer, seven KDSS members, namely, Siddram Chincholi, Basavaraj Mayur, Lohit Katti, Hanumanth Yelasangi, Dharmanna Nimbarga, Siddram Jogan, and Sharanabasappa Herur have begun an indefinite hunger strike in frount of the deputy commissioner's office here.

BELLARY INCIDENT: Mr Kollur also condemned the naked parade of a Dalit woman at Venur village in Bellary district recently. He charged that even though the atrocities on the Dalits were increasing after the Congress Government came to power in the State two years ago, yet the State Government had not done anything in this direction.

The most unfortunate thing in the Bellary incident was that all the accused were able to get out on bail, and the State Government could not do anything. Thereby, he demanded the rearrest of the seven accused and to exterminate them. Meanwhile, the Dalit Panther of India has also supported the indefinite hunger strike taken up by the KDSS.