Mangaluru: A forum representing the Ediga and Billava communities has expressed their concerns about the reported neglect of senior Congress party leader B.K. Hariprasad in Karnataka. Speaking to reporters in Mangaluru on Monday, G.N. Santhosh Kumar, the state president of Rashtriya Ediga Billava Mahamandali, along with vice-president Jeethendra J Suvarna, stated that the party should immediately offer Hariprasad a suitable position.

Kumar emphasized that Hariprasad is an honest politician with an untarnished record, comparable to B. Janardhan Poojary. Being closely associated with former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, Hariprasad deserves due prominence, and the community will not tolerate any disregard shown towards him, Kumar added.

The forum demanded that the Congress government fulfill its promise to release Rs 259 crore, as mentioned in their manifesto, for the Brahmashri Narayana Guru Development Corporation. They also called for the immediate appointment of a chairman and members for the corporation.

Additionally, they urged the government to initiate the Kulashastra Adhyayana (ethnographic study) that was announced by the previous government. The forum leaders also emphasized the need for the government to submit a proposal to the central government for the inclusion of the Ediga community under the Scheduled Tribes (ST) category.

The leaders further proposed that the new airport in Shivamogga be named after former Chief Minister S. Bangarappa. They also advocated for the establishment of competitive exam training centers for IAS, IPS, and KAS in the name of Brahmashri Narayana Guru in coastal districts. They emphasized the importance of including chapters on Sri Narayana Guru in the curriculum of all universities in Karnataka and installing a statue of Guru near Vidhan Soudha in Bengaluru.

The forum has also decided to hold "kulabandhava chintana shibira" (conclaves) in all districts to strengthen the community by creating awareness about social and political issues.