The Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has issued a warning of a statewide protest if the state government does not implement internal reservation for the Scheduled Caste (SC) community as recommended by the Justice Nagamohan Das Committee and the Supreme Court. Former Chief Minister and BJP MP Basavaraj Bommai emphasized that immediate action should be taken without the need for a special Cabinet meeting. He criticized the government for allegedly neglecting the SC and Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities and failing to address their concerns.
Bommai highlighted the historical demands for internal reservation and increased quotas for SC and ST communities during Siddaramaiah’s previous term as Chief Minister. He expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of issues affecting these communities and questioned the allocation of funds meant for their welfare. The BJP leader accused the state government of diverting significant amounts of money earmarked for SC and ST communities to other purposes, raising concerns about transparency and accountability.
Referring to the recommendations of B.R. Ambedkar, Bommai stressed the importance of reservations for SC and ST communities to reflect their population share. He pointed out that the Justice Nagamohan Das Committee had previously proposed an increase in reservation, which was successfully implemented by the BJP government through legislation. Despite the Supreme Court’s clarification that internal reservation can be enforced without a constitutional amendment, Bommai criticized the current Congress-led government for its alleged inaction and lack of commitment to implementing the recommended measures.
Bommai urged the state government to prioritize the implementation of internal reservation in alignment with the Supreme Court’s directives and the Justice Nagamohan Das Committee report. He also drew attention to the challenges faced by nomadic communities, emphasizing the need for immediate action to address their living conditions and lack of representation. The BJP leader warned of escalating protests across all districts if the government fails to act promptly, highlighting the growing discontent among various communities over the issue of internal reservation.
