SC and ST communities are an identity of India: CM Bommai

Mysuru: SC/ST communities are the identity of India and there is a need to empower both communities, said Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Saturday.

Speaking after inaugurating the two-day national executive meeting of the BJP SC Morcha at Lalith Mahal Palace in Mysuru, Bommai said that if the SC/ST communities come together, the nation’s strength will rise. “The downtrodden communities need to be self-respecting and self-reliant. We have to move forward with the attitude that we are no less than anyone, we don’t need anyone’s sympathy,” he said.

“Ambedkar was a great man. I also proudly say that I also am an Ambedkarite. Ambedkar was the number one patriot,” he said.

Further, he criticized Congress for appropriating the legacy of Ambedkar.”The Congress party is now trying to gain political mileage by putting Ambedkar forward. The Congress did not give a place in Delhi for Ambedkar’s funeral. The same Congress is using Ambedkar’s name to get Dalit votes,” he said.

The CM said the state government has implemented several programmes for the development of the Dalit community.

BJP SC Morcha national president Lal Singh Arya, and BJP national general secretary C.T. Ravi among others were present.