For equal society, every person should be strengthened socially, economically: Siddaramaiah

“There are some people who want to change the Constitution. If people say a different Constitution is needed, then we would be going back to Manusmriti. Only a movement away from Manusmriti will result in an equal society,” the Karnataka CM said.

Dwelling on the speech delivered by the architect of the Constitution, Bhim Rao Ambedkar, on November 25, 1949, a day before the Constitution was adopted by the Constituent Assembly, Siddaramaiah said Dr Ambedkar had warned against the continuance of social and economic inequalities in the Indian society after Independence.

“It is a historical speech. He (Ambedkar) said we are stepping towards a life of contradictions. He pointed out that there were social and economic inequalities in our society and many sections had been suppressed for generations. He said that if this injustice is not set right then the people themselves would rebel against the democratic system,” Siddaramaiah said.

“In order to resist the caste system there should be social and economic strength. There cannot be change in society otherwise. This was well understood by Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. This is why he said that while there would be political equality on account of the principle of one person, one vote, there was no similar equality on the social and economic front,” he said.

Siddaramaiah said the BJP “deifies personalities like M S Golwalkar and V D Savarkar who have opposed the Constitution but at the same time it attempts to appropriate Dr Ambedkar”.

“Golwalkar’s book Chintana Ganga opposes the Constitution. He praises Savarkar. In the Organiser they have given statements opposing the Constitution after it was adopted. They said the Constitution was not right,” he said.

“The BJP, which follows the values of these leaders, is now seeking to appropriate Dr Ambdekar. This hypocrisy must be understood. I believe that you have understood this and that is why Dalit groups have launched agitations,” he said.

The CM said the government was inclined to favor Dalit groups on demands such as a law for protection of land and restoration of certain laws.

“We are in favor of your demands. We can sit down and discuss. We can bring in law for PTCL (prohibition of transfer of certain lands). We can remove the land reforms Act and restore old laws but we cannot do it all at once,” Siddaramaiah said.

The Karnataka CM said the Congress poll guarantees, which are set to be implemented in a phased manner beginning from June 11, were intended for the poor people of the state.