MYSURU: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday said that the Sangh Parivar and RSS, who had opposed Dr BR Ambedkar’s Constitution in the past, continue to do so even today.
The Chief Minister urged people to remain vigilant regarding their “ulterior motives”.
Siddaramaiah was speaking after inaugurating the silver jubilee celebrations of the Dr BR Ambedkar Research and Extension Center and the new Gnana Darshana building at the Vishwa Gyani Auditorium in the University of Mysore’s Manasagangotri campus on Saturday.
“Ambedkar was a visionary who used his knowledge to bring about social transformation. He studied society deeply to understand its inequalities and worked tirelessly to reform it. Today, the BJP and the Sangh Parivar are spreading falsehoods in Ambedkar’s name, claiming that the Congress defeated him in the elections.
But Ambedkar himself wrote, in his own handwriting, that it was RSS’ Savarkar and Dange who defeated him.
Such lies must be countered by presenting the truth before society,” the CM said, adding that he established the Ambedkar School of Economics so that students could not only study Ambedkar, but also emulate his ideals.
“Ambedkar is incomparable, another Ambedkar cannot be born. Everyone should follow his principles,” he said, adding that vested interests are spreading false narratives that Ambedkar alone did not frame the Constitution. “The fact is, he studied numerous constitutions worldwide and crafted one uniquely suited for our country,” the CM said.
Recalling a recent incident, Siddaramaiah said, “A person with a Sanatana Dharma mindset threw a shoe at the Chief Justice of India merely because he was a Dalit. This shows that Sanatanis and vested interests still exist in our society. It is not only Dalits who must condemn such acts, every citizen should. Only then can we say society is moving towards real change. Buddha, Basava, and Ambedkar fought against caste discrimination, yet social inequality persists even today.”
The Chief Minister said that everyone must nurture rationality and scientific temper. “Education should not lead to superstition. Inequality arises because equal opportunities are denied. Education is not the privilege of any one community, everyone deserves access to it. Stay close to those who stand for social progress and keep away from those who oppose change,” the CM added.
Social Welfare and District Minister HC Mahadevappa urged university professors to speak openly and fearlessly on issues concerning the Constitution and democracy.