Congress Did not Grow on Castism, Allegations of Harikrishna Bantwal False – Harish Kumar
Mangaluru: “Before quitting the party Harikrishna Bantwal said that the Billawas have been discriminated by the Congress party. The Billawa community has not been given any opportunities in the party. But Harikrishna Bantwal has enjoyed all the opportunities in the Congress party. When Indira Gandhi was the Prime minister, she brought the land reformation act and the Billawas have benefitted a lot. Now Harikrishna Bantwal is quitting the Congress party with allegations of discrimination and using caste card”, said the district Congress president in a press meet held at the DCC Office, Mallikatta here on October 28.
Addressing the mediapersons Harish Kumar said, “It is an insult to bring caste while quitting the party, the Congress believes in secularism. The contribution towards Billawas by the Congress party is tremendous. Even in the political arena, the Congress party has given a lot of opportunity for the Billawa community. Senior Congress leader Janardhan Poojary was given the ticket 9 times from the party to contest the Lok Sabha elections. Former Minister Vinay Kumar Sorake has also been given the opportunity to contest and become the minister. Harikrishna Bantwal is putting false allegations that the Congress party did not give any opportunity to the Billawa community in politics which is far from the truth”.
Harish Kumar further said, “Instead of joining politics, Harikrishna Bantwal should join any caste-based organization.”