Mulbagal: The voters of Mulbagal in Karnataka are desperately waiting for the authorities concerned to take stringent action against their elected representative for producing fake caste certificate at the time of submitting nomination papers to contest the State Assembly elections in 2013. Will the authorities deliver the much-needed justice to prevent politicians submitting fake caste certificate to contest from the Assembly constituencies reserved for the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes?
If the delay in taking action against G Manjunatha, an Independent MLA representing Mulbagal in Karnataka State Assembly is any indication, it seems the law enforcing agencies think twice before initiating any move either to disqualify them or sent to prison for indulging in forgery at the time of filing nomination papers.
It is alleged that Manjunatha has claimed that he belongs to Budaga Jangama caste which is included to the list of Scheduled Castes in Karnataka. Mulbagal assembly constituency is one among the 33 constituencies reserved for Scheduled Caste candidates in the State. Manjunatha has contested as an Independent candidate and defeated his nearest rival N Munianjappa of Janata Dal (Secular) by a margin of 33,734 votes. While Manjunatha polled 73,146 votes, Munianjappa got 39,412 votes.
Mulbagal assembly constituency became a reserved constituency as part of delimitation process initiated in 2008.
The Additional Director General of Police, Directorate of Civil Rights Enforcement, Bengaluru had confirmed in April 2014 itself about the fake bonafides but the authorities did not act even after four years.
According to reliable sources, the ADGP of Directorate of Civil Rights Enforcement has directed the Deputy Commissioner of Kolar to cancel the caste certificate of MLA Manjunatha on April 1, 2014.
The sources in the Deputy Commissioner’s office opine that taking action against MLA Manjunatha would be difficult because of his association with the ruling party – Congress.
The sources said that Manjunatha is one among the 37 people who submitted fake caste certificates in Kolar district. While Manjunatha submitted the fake caste certificate to contest the election, others produced bogus caste certificates to get government jobs and promotions.
They said that late D. K. Ravi who served as the Deputy Commissioner of Kolar district had also failed to take any action against Manjunatha since the latter is associated with Congress. After Ravi’s transfer to Bengaluru, Trilok Chandra assumed office as the Deputy Commissioner but he too failed to take any action against the MLA.
However, the District administration is on its toes due to the protest launched by Dalit organisations demanding the cancellation of MLA Manjunatha’s caste certificate.
“We are planning to organize a massive protest in front of the Directorate of Civil Rights Enforcement if the authorities fail to cancel the caste certificate issued to MLA Manjunatha. We have decided not to allow upper caste candidates to contest to the State Assembly from Mulbagal in the next Assembly elections scheduled to be held in April or May this year,’’ says Harohalli Narayanaswamy, State President, Federation of Dalit Associations.
MLA G Manjunatha was not available for comment.
