H.C. Mahadevappa
| Photo Credit: File photo

Social Welfare Minister H.C. Mahadevappa on Sunday maintained that there is a clear difference between the virtuous and steadfast Sri Rama created by sage Valmiki and the Lord Rama at the Ayodhya temple.

“We need to clearly understand there is a difference between these two,” the Minister said at Valmiki Jatra at Rajanahalli near Harihar in Davangere district.

“We all know that sage Valmiki was the creator of Rama. However, we have to understand that the Lord Rama in Ayodhya is distinct from the idea of Rama Rajya envisaged by the author. Valmiki has dwelt in detail about the virtues of Sri Rama and his steadfast personality, on occasions like Rama’s Vanavasa and he being crowned the emperor,” the Dalit leader said.

Dr. Mahadevappa urged members of Dalit and tribal communities to get educated and stay away from blind beliefs.

”If we do not get educated properly, there is a danger of our communities being saffronised. It is against the vision of Valmiki. We need to be spiritual, but be wary of blind beliefs. We should shun saffron but embrace the blue colour that symbolises liberty, equality, and fraternity. It also means peace, and endless like the sky,” he said.

“We should realise that we will not change for the better just by bathing in the river Ganga. We need to change our minds and aim for the better of our own volition. We also need to agitate to get our rights. As many as 16 members of deprived communities have been elected as legislators in the State. This would not have happened if we had not fought for our rights,” he said.

He quoted B.R. Ambedkar and said that political power was the key to finding solutions to all problems. Gaining political power is not difficult if all the deprived communities remain united, he said.

He said the State government would soon take steps to fill backlog vacancies and that a Cabinet sub-committee constituted for the purpose had held three meetings already.