Anant Kumar stirs new controversy; Terms Dalits 'Barking Dogs'

Bhatkallys News Bureau Bellari: Union Minister for Skill Development, Anant Kumar Hegde once again made a controversial statement by referring Dalits as "Barking Stray Dogs", speaking at a job fair and skill exhibition held at Ballari on Saturday, January 20. At a job fair, while addressing the audience, hegde remarked that he doesn't care about the dalits being protesting him and referred them as barking dogs. Upon the statement, Dalits were once again shouting slogans against the minister. Earlier when Hegde entered the district, members of Dalit community blocked his car and shouted slogans by waving black flags in protest against his recent statement on 'Changing Constitution' which had led to nationwide condemnation of the statement. They accused him of being 'Anti-Dalits'. The police then intervened and managed to disperse the protesters. In Dec 2017, speaking at a programme in Koppal, Hegde had stirred a controversy over his comment that his party which is in power at the centre was 'ready to change the Constitution'. The statement then led to the protests and widespread condemnation, after which Hegde was made to apologise in Parliament.