Denied cabinet berth in govt, K'taka BJP MP dubs party 'anti-Dalit'

Bengaluru, NT Bureau: A senior BJP leader and MP from Vijayapura in Karnataka has called out his own party for denying Dalit leaders from the state a place in the Modi-led Union cabinet.

Ramesh Jigajinagi, a seven-time MP, said he did not know whether it was “justice or injustice” that he was denied a cabinet berth in the new government that took oath on 9 June, reports The Print. “…in all of south India, as a Dalit person, I am the only one who has won seven times (for parliament).

All upper caste (leaders) became (ministers). Does that mean that Dalits did not support the BJP at all? I am very pained by this,” Jigajinagi told reporters in Vijayapura.

“Many told me this party is anti-Dalit and that I should not join them (BJP). It’s not from my side but there is pressure from the people,” the former Union minister said. Jigajinagi is from the backward Madiga community that is classified as ‘SC-Left’ in Karnataka.