Plaint against Araga over ‘casteist’ comment on Kharge

NT Correspondent

Shivamogga | Bengaluru: Two days after BJP leader Araga Jnanendra made an allegedly casteist remark about All India Congress Committee (AICC) president Mallikarjun Kharge’s complexion, a complaint has been registered against the former at the Theerthahalli Police Station by Dalit social activist Paduvalli Harshendra Kumar.

Kumar, who is close to Congressman Kimmane Ratnakar, argued that using derogatory language against Dalits in public constituted an offence under the Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) Atrocities Act.

Araga, a former Home Minister, made the comments in a seemingly unrelated context. He had been staging a protest alongside BJP workers at Theerthahalli town in Shivamogga district on Tuesday, against the Congress State government’s decision to implement the Kasturirangan report.

The implementation of the same would declare 37 per cent of the total land mass of Western Ghats, roughly 60,000 square kilometres, as eco-sensitive zone (ESZ), making economic activities like mining prohibited therein.

The issue is that 20,668 square kilometre covers 1,576 villages in the state. State BJP is opposed to it and claims that the measures would affect the livelihood of locals. Jnanendra, who is the MLA from Theerthahalli, had claimed that Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre, a Bidar district native, didn’t understand forests or the issues of Malnad.

“He doesn’t understand trees and shade. The greenery has burned away (where he comes from). If you look at (Mallikarjun) Kharge, you’ll understand. Poor chap survived with merely a few strands of hair on his head,” Jnanendra said.

Since then, the focus has been less on the Kasturirangan report and more on the allegedly casteist and / or colourist remark by the former minister. Congress directed a barrage of retorts at Araga, claiming it exposed BJP for a casteist party.

Jnanendra on Wednesday even apologized for his comment.

However, Paduvalli Harshendra Kumar, insisted in his complaint that the remark was not just insulting to Kharge but to Dalits in general.

He said that castebased abuse in public should be deterred by way of public action and demanded that the police take swift action regarding the same. Sangh influence shows in remark: Priyank Mallikarjun Kharge’s son and Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR) claimed that Jnanedra’s comment was the result of him being influenced by RSS.

“These aren’t your words alone. These words come from Keshava Krupa’s (RSS headquarters in Karnataka) influence. It shows the BJP’s impatience toward the oppressed,” he said, alleging that the BJP and Sangh were adherents of the philosophy of ‘varnashrama’ (four varnas) and Manusmriti,a scripture that grants sacred sanction to caste divisions.

Former primary and secondary education minister Kimamne Ratnakar said that Araga, who has held ministerial responsibilities, ought not to have made the comments, warning of a legal case.

“Why have no BJP leaders condemned this statement of Araga Jnanendra? Do their minds also bear the same thoughts?” he asked.