Union Minister of State for Skill Development, Anantkumar Hegde has landed in another controversy by using the term “barking dogs” to describe those protesting against him.
Hedge, who had arrived in Karnataka’s Ballari district for a job fair and skill exhibition was stopped by Dalit protesters. They blocked his car and shouted slogans for his earlier speech on the Indian Constitution.
Later, while addressing an event, Hegde said that he does not care about stray dogs barking, and that remark angered Dalit groups even more.
On Saturday morning, hundreds of people belonging to Dalit organizations, farmers, labor and women’s associations gathered for a protest outside the Government Inspection Bungalow in Karnataka’s Ballari district where Union Minister Anantkumar Hegde was residing.
The protesters expressed anger against the Minister of State for Skill Development for his remarks on changing the Constitution and also mocking progressive thinkers. When the sloganeering against Anantkumar Hegde grew louder, the police intervened to control the situation.
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The protesters accused the Minister, the BJP, RSS and also Prime Minister Narendra Modi of being anti-Dalit.
Later, speaking at the job fair, Anantkumar Hegde said: “I am a very straightforward person and speak without hesitating to express my views. I am committed to helping nurture the skill already prevalent among the youth and help them become independent. I am here to realize the dreams of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and to transform the country into a “skilled Bharat”. We will go ahead with this commitment and not care about barking stray dogs.”
The reference to stray dogs, which came soon after the morning protests, enraged Dalit groups further. Many Dalit organizations stated another protest where they waved black flags and shouted slogans against Anantkumar.
Several activists were detained as the protesters surrounded Anantkumar Hegde’s car when he was leaving the venue.
Actor Prakash Raj who has been a vocal with his criticism of BJP and especially Ananthkumar Hegde took to Twitter to ask if the BJP endorsed Hegde’s statement.
“Enough is enough…Serial offender…minister Ananthkumar Hegde at it again….he calls Dalits DOGs ..for protesting against his controversial constitution remark… supreme leaders of #bjp will you ask him to step down …or do you endorse his abuse #justasking,” he tweeted
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