District In-charge Minister K S Eshwarappa has stated that the members of Kuruba community want former chief minister and Congress leader Siddaramaiah to take part in the ongoing agitation for ST status to the community.
Speaking to mediapersons here on Monday, he said that the community convention held in Bengaluru was a huge success. The community seers Niranjanananda, Eshwarananda and others took part in padayatra.
He also made it clear that neither the party nor he had donated money for the convention.
"Members of the community voluntarily took part in the padayatra. Leaders of all parties, except Siddaramaiah, took part in the convention. The members of the community were primarily responsible for him becoming the chief minister. Naturally, they had expected his participation in the convention. Eshwarappa said.
He claimed that Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa had given grants for the development of the community. Besides, he said, he had declared Kanaka Jayanti a public holiday.
"The state government has given ST status to the community. The agitation committee would hold talks with the chief minister and urge him to recommend to the Centre to accord ST status to Kuruba community. It would be done after taking a decision in the Cabinet meeting. The community leaders would meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amith Shah and appeal to them to give ST status to the community," he explained.