Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (TU/CN)
 
Mangalore, Apr 15: The scheduled caste unit of the Dakshina Kannada District Congress Committee on Wednesday April 15, urged the chief election officer to deem invalid the nomination of D V Sadananda Gowda, state president, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), for humiliating Dalit leader Mallikarjuna Kharge at a public meeting.
 
Addressing media persons at a press conference, Honnappa Kulal, convener of the unit, said that Udupi-Chickmagalur Lok Sabha candidate Gowda had humiliated Kharge at a public meeting held in Hassan recently by saying that ‘he does not know how to wear cloth’.

Kulal urged the chief election officer to take action against him under the Scheduled Tribe and Scheduled Caste (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989 and to book a complaint against him for violation of the election code of conduct.
 
“This is a clear violation of the election code of conduct. It is an offence under the Scheduled Tribe and Scheduled Caste (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989 to humiliate a person belonging to the scheduled caste in public. Necessary action should be taken against Gowda and his nomination should be deemed invalid”, urged Kulal.
 
He also said that they are contemplating filing a private case against him. A memorandum was submitted to the election officer and deputy commissioner (DC) V Ponnuraj. Shivappa Ninnipadpu, and Keshava Naik were present.