Speaking at the commemoration day of Dr B R Ambedkar held at Shanivarasanthe Government Primary School on Sunday, he said that dalits are denied equality in our democratic set up even after 59 year of Independence.

He said dalits will be subjected to harsh treatment as long as caste system exists. He said it is a shame that events like desecration of Ambedkar’s statue is reported frequently.

He further said that during the 1980s, a dalit was murdered in Malur taluk. Following an agitation taken up by the DSS, the accused Krishne Gowda was punished by court.

Recently 13 dalits were burnt alive in the Kambalapalli incident and all the 32 accused were acquitted by a special court set up by the state government. This indicates that the lives of dalit do not have any value in this country. This was the reason why Dr Ambedkar embraced Buddhism. He called upon all dalits to embrace Budhism to enjoy equality in society.

In his chief guest address, Taluk panchayat president S M Dsilva spoke about the contributions of Ambedkar to the nation.