Bengaluru, July 16 -- Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday asserted that India can't remain a true democracy if the minorities and other marginalised communities, including Other Backward Classes (OBCs), Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) are not heard.

"India cannot be a true democracy if OBCs, SCs, STs, and minorities -- the AHINDA communities -- are merely counted but not heard," Siddaramaiah said while addressing the AICC OBC council meet here, adding, "This is not just a fight for reservation. It is a fight for dignity, recognition, and real power for those historically denied it."

AHINDA is the Kannada acronym for Alpasankhyataru, Hindulidavaru, and Dalitaru (minorities, OBCs, SCs).

Apprising the gath...