Picture Courtesy : Hindustan Times
BJP president Amit Shah’s meeting with Dalit leaders in Mysuru did not go on expected lines. In- fact it turned chaotic after some angry protesters raised slogans demanding Union Minister Anant Kumar Hegde’s ouster for his reported controversial comments about Dalits and change in the Indian Constitution.
At an interaction with Dalit leaders, Shah was asked several questions in writing, but he preferred to answer a few.
Replying to the protesters demand to explain his stand on Hegde’s remarks, Shah said neither he nor his party had anything to do with it.
Disappointed with Shah’s reply, the protesters flayed him and sought removal of Hegde from the cabinet.
Subsequently, Mysuru MP Pratap Simha tried to pacify the protesters, but the situation went out of control and turned chaotic.
Police immediately took the Dalit leaders into custody. Shah, who was in the state ahead of crucial May 12 assembly polls, was visiting Mysuru, Chamarajanagar, Mandya and Ramanagara which are considered as Vokkaliga heartland.
Hegde had also reportedly said “we are here to change the Constitution and we’ll change it.”
The minister had to tender an apology in the Lok Sabha after a nudge by the Speaker, but he said his speech at a function in Karnataka was ‘distorted’. He had also denied having made any anti-Dalit remarks.
