Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president G Prameshwara has sought to distance himself from making any comment on the government’s plans to table the Anti-superstition Bill.
He told reporters here on Monday that the issue had not been debated in any party forum.
While accepting the proposed draft bill prepared by the National Law School of India University and the Karnataka Law University, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had stated that the government would table it in the Belgaum session.
However, following criticism from various quarters, including opposition parties and his own party leaders, Siddaramaiah stepped back on the issue.
“Since the Chief Minister himself has taken a stand on not pursuing the issue, it is better to leave it at that,” he said.
On Law Minister T B Jayachandra’s assertion that the bill would be tabled in the coming Belgaum session, he said: “When the Chief Minister himself made clear the fate of the bill one need not attach much importance to other’s view.”
Parmeshwara said the bill was not part of the party’s poll manifesto.
“The government can take up any matter that was not part of the poll manifesto,” he said.
On the Bidai scheme, which provides `50,000 to girls belonging to minority communities for their marriage, he said: “I am yet to see it.”
Maintaining that Siddaramaiah has clarified the government’s stand on the issue, he denied that the proposal was made only to appease a section of society.
“The party is committed to empower the downtrodden,” he said.
Meanwhile in Mangalore on Monday, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the Bill will be tabled in the winter session only after proper discussions.
He was addressing reporters on the sidelines of a programme at Karambar in Bajpe.
On Law Minister T B Jayachandra’s recent statement, the Chief Minister clarified that his statement does not mean that it will be tabled without discussions.
He said the Maharashtra government too has a similar bill and Karnataka also needs one, but it will be tabled only after weighing the merits and demerits.
When reporters pointed out the displeasure of sugarcane farmers on the minimum support price, he said the government fixed the price at `2,500 per tonne after holding a day-long meeting with the Karnataka Sugarcane Control Board. Hence there is no question of them being displeased, he felt.
On when the government would appoint chairmen and members to various government boards and corporations, Siddaramaiah said the appointments will be made shortly.