Talawar community demands to issue ST caste certificates

Members of Karnataka Rajya Talawar Samaj have launched a scathing attack on Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge, alleging that the he has intentionally obstructed issuance of Scheduled Tribes certificates to eligible members of Talawar community.

Sardar Rayappa, State president of the samaj addressing a press conference in Kalaburagi on Wednesday expressed that educated youths from Talawar community are being denied reservations and employment opportunities, while farmers and small entrepreneurs have also been deprived of government benefits due to non issuance of ST certificates.

He termed it is a kind of “Tughlaq-Darbar” in the Kalaburagi district under Priyank Kharge’s leadership; accusing him of misusing power to suppress Talawar community, Mr. Rayappa claimed that constitutional rights are being openly violated despite Mr. Kharge’s frequent references to the ideologies of Buddha, Basava, and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. “He speaks about the Constitution and equality in public, but in reality, he has denied us the very constitutional rights that Dr. Ambedkar guaranteed,” Mr. Rayappa alleged.

He claimed that no officials, legislators, and even a community leader dare to speak before Priyank Kharge, alleging that the people of Kalaburagi district have lost their ‘right to speech’ under his regime.

Recalling an instance, Mr. Rayappa alleged that during the tenure of Mallikarjun Kharge as Home Minister in State Cabinet, the Tokari Koli community was forced to surrender their caste certificates, and now Mr. Priyank Kharge, is walking the same path-misusing power and making efforts to destroy the future of the Talawar community,” he expressed.

The Talawar Samaj has planned to launch a dharna protest outside the residence of legislators in Kalaburagi district every alternate day from November 10 to November 26. The Samaj members would continue to launch a series of agitations until ST caste certificates are issued to the Talawar community, he reiterated.

Declaring the community’s political stance, Mr. Rayappa said the Talawar community’s agenda in the coming elections will be “Talawar Samaj Bachao, Priyank Kharge Hatao.”