Congress only ray of hope for minorities, SC/STs'

Mangalore, April 22: The District Congress minority and SC/ST cells have come out to woo minority and backward class votes by claiming that the Congress is their only ray of hope for protection and development.

Addressing media persons at a news conference in Mangalore on Sunday, U K Monu, Vice-President, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Minority Wing, said that no other party has given prominence to minorities the way the Congress did.

“Out of the 224 Assembly constituencies, 24 are being contested by minority candidates on the Congress ticket. Tickets have been given to 19 Muslims, 3 Jains and 2 Christians in the state. The tally of minority representation has increased this elections when compared to the elections of 2008. It is the Congress party which elevated leaders hailing from minority communities to become Prime Ministers and Presidents of the country. Under the Congress, minorities in India are protected and the party has proved time and again that it stands for minorities,” Mr. Monu said.

When asked about minority candidates contesting elections as independent candidates against the Congress especially in Ullal, Mr. Monu said that the party faces no threat from anyone as the popular support and tide is with the party.

SC/ST Cell

In a separate news conference, Padmanabha Naringana, President, District Congress SC/ST Cell said that Dalits have been exploited by the BJP led state government.

“Several facilities including houses, scholarships, ration and 'Tali Bhagya' that Dalits were receiving earlier have been stopped by the BJP. If at all the constitution of the country drafted by Dr B R Ambedkar is to remain protected, the Congress will have to come back to power”, Mr. Naringana said.

Appi, Councilor, Mangalore City Corporation (MCC), said that Dalits bore the brunt of the BJP's anti-Dalit policies in the MCC as well.

“The grant of Rs.1.5 lakh which was earlier being given was reduced to Rs. 60,000 by the BJP ruled MCC administration. So is the case with other facilities such as construction of houses and Panchayat's 'Tali Bhagya' scheme for weddings”, Ms. Appi said.