Published Mar 31, 2023 | 7:23 AM ⚊ Updated Mar 31, 2023 | 7:23 AM
BS Yediyurappa (supplied)
Even as the Basavaraj Bommai-led Karnataka government’s move to take away quota from religious minorities and distribute it equally among the influential Vokkaligas and Lingayats attracted severe criticism, Lingayat strongman and four-time chief minister BS Yediyurappa affirmed that the BJP had not done injustice to the minorities.
Yediyurappa, who had taken exception over his party leaders frequently stoking animosity between Hindus and Muslims over issues like the hijab and the Tipu-Savarkar narrative ahead of the 2023 Karnataka Assembly polls, defended his successor’s decision to scrap the four percent reservation for Muslims under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category.
“I want to make it clear that the BJP government has not done injustice to the minority community. We are accommodating them in a better place by bringing them under the Centre’s Economically Weaker Section (EWS) quota,” Yediyurappa told reporters in Bengaluru on Thursday, 30 March.
“Let there be no misunderstanding. Reservation cannot be given based on religion. They will be included in the EWS quota,” added Yediyurappa, who is also the member of the BJP’s Parliamentary Board.
Terming the recent decision on reservation as historic, Yediyurappa hailed Bommai for increasing the quota for Lingayats, Vokkaligas, Schedules Castes (SCs), and Scheduled Tribes (STs).
“It is for the first time in the history of Karnataka, or probably in India, our chief minister has done a wonderful job on the reservation front and provided social security,” applauded the former chief minister.
He said: “The Lingayats and Vokkaligas, who were demanding for a quota hike, will now have seven percent and six percent reservation, respectively. Reservations were even hiked for SCs (Left), who got six per cent, SCs (Right) increased to 5.5 percent, Bhovi, Banjara and other communities hiked to 4.5 percent, and other SCs got one percent.”
“We will try to convince Banjaras and others. There might be some misunderstanding. Everyone in the state is happy about increasing reservations. In a couple of places — the people have protested and an effort will be made to sort things out,” said the former chief minister on protests by Banjaras opposing internal reservations.
He pointed: “When I was at the helm, I had formed Lambani Development Corporation and Thanda Development Corporation, and initiated steps to convert ‘Thandas’ into revenue villages. I had also allotted land to the landless Lambanis.”
With less than 45 days left for the Assembly polls, Yediyurappa exuded confidence that the BJP would return to power, even as he hit out at the Congress.
“The grand old party is day-dreaming of coming to power. The Mallikarjuna Kharge-led party will not win more than 65 to 70 seats in the polls,” contended the former chief minister.
ಕರುನಾಡಿನ ಜನತೆ ಬಿಜೆಪಿ ಪರವಾಗಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಪ್ರಧಾನಿ ಶ್ರೀ @narendramodi ಅವರ ಸಮರ್ಥ ನಾಯಕತ್ವ, ಮಾರ್ಗದರ್ಶನದಡಿ ರಾಜ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಬಿಜೆಪಿ ಪೂರ್ಣ ಬಹುಮತದಿಂದ ಮತ್ತೊಮ್ಮೆ ಅಧಿಕಾರಕ್ಕೆ ಬರಲಿದೆ.
– ಶ್ರೀ @BSYBJP, ನಿಕಟಪೂರ್ವ ಮುಖ್ಯಮಂತ್ರಿಗಳು#BJPYeBharavase pic.twitter.com/P0BJjl5pyq
— BJP Karnataka (@BJP4Karnataka) March 30, 2023
“I wish to ask Congress party leaders who their leader is? Can Rahul Gandhi be equal to Narendra Modi?” asked Yediyurappa.
He said: “BJP will come back to power with absolute majority under the headship of Narendra Modiji.”
Yediyurappa dismissed some pre-poll surveys which predicted that Congress would wrest power from the BJP.
“I have been in politics for over five decades. I know the pulse of the people very well. We have built the party from the grassroots level. BJP’s own surveys give the party 130 to 140 seats,” Yediyurappa said, claiming that there was a BJP wave in Karnataka.
He said: “The turnout of people during Prime Minister Modi’s events across Karnataka and the response during the culmination of the ‘Vijay Sankalpa Ratha Yatre’ give a clear indication that the party would come back to power.”
After the Congress announced Siddaramaiah’s candidature from Varuna — there is talk in the old-Mysuru region that BJP state vice-president BY Vijayendra, youngest son of Yediyurappa, would contest against the former chief minister in the Assembly elections.
Commenting on whether his son Vijayendra would be in fray in Varuna seat, Yediyurappa said: “The discussions are being made. Siddaramaiah knows that his ground is slipping away. I don’t think it will be easy for him.”
“The party will field an appropriate candidate. We will give a tough fight. Let’s see what happens. The central leadership will take a final call on fielding Vijayendra from Varuna,” added the former chief minister.
Union Ministers Shobha Karndlaje, Bhagwant Khuba and other party leaders were present.
