The Siddaramaiah Cabinet also gave its nod to name 12th-century social reformer Basavanna as the cultural leader of Karnataka.
Karnataka Cabinet gives nod to name 12th century Social reformer Basavanna as the cultural leader of Karnataka in the cabinet meeting held in Bengaluru on Thursday. (supplied)
In a significant development, the Siddaramaiah-led Karnataka Cabinet on Thursday, 18 January, put the ball in the Union government’s court when it came to internal reservation for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs).
The Cabinet on Thursday recommended that the Central government amend Article 341(3) of the Constitution to achieve this goal.
Karnataka’s Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister HK Patil told reporters: “The state government cannot do anything without legal feasibility. We can take up decisions pertaining to internal reservations if and only if Article 341(3) of the Constitution is amended. The Congress government is committed to social justice and reservation.”
Patil said: “We cannot give justice without the amendment by Parliament. Once the amendment is done, the state government will take further decisions pertaining to internal reservation to SCs and STs.”
He added: “We cannot do anything without legal feasibility. The amendment is the only solution, without which we are facing legal constraints. We want to do it without any legal hurdles.”
In other major decisions taken in the meeting held on Thursday, the Cabinet gave a nod to name 12th-century social reformer Basavanna as the cultural leader of Karnataka. The government also declared the elections for the Bengaluru Teachers Constituency on 16 February.
The state government also announced that the budget session would commence on 12 February and conclude on 23 February. The chief minister is expected to present a record 15th budget for the fiscal year 2024-25 on 16 February.
The @siddaramaiah government to present annual budget for the fiscal year 2024-25 on 16 February. The decision was taken in the cabinet meeting held at Vidhana Soudha on Thursday.
Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs @HKPatilINC told reporters: “The joint session will… pic.twitter.com/jAXETaNvtN
— South First (@TheSouthfirst) January 18, 2024
On the other hand, the state government brought changes to the guidelines for the Gruha Jyothi scheme. The Cabinet gave a nod for the changes to the guidelines, where the beneficiaries would be permitted to utilise only 10 units of additional electricity instead of the 10 percent that was announced while launching the scheme.
The Cabinet on Thursday also decided to seek legal opinions to revive the Sadashiva Committee report, prepared by a commission headed by Justice AJ Sadashiva.
The commission, set up in 2005, was tasked with assessing the need to sub-classify SCs in Karnataka. It eventually submitted its report to the government in 2012, but that report was never presented in the Assembly.
The Congress, in the run-up to the 2023 Karnataka Assembly polls, promised to table the report in the House if voted to power.
Karnataka Social Welfare Minister Dr HC Mahadevappa told reporters on Thursday: “Dalits in Karnataka have been demanding justice in the form of internal reservation for sub-sects of SCs and STs for the past two decades.”
He added: “After the Congress held the SC/ST convention at Chitradurga, the previous BJP government, in an urgency, constituted a Cabinet sub-committee to discuss internal reservation. The then Cabinet recommended that the Centre provide internal reservation for SCs and STs. In the meantime, the previous BJP regime termed the Sadashiva Commission report incomplete and closed it. There are 101 sub-sects in SCs. The interests of all these sub-sects will be protected.”
He further said: “The Justice Nagamohan Das Committee was constituted during the Congress-JD(S) coalition government in 2019. Considering the 2011 census report, the committee recommended providing internal reservation for the sub-sects. We are committed to social justice and reservation. The Justice Usha Mehra Commission recommended the amendment of Article 341(3) of the Constitution. This amendment will help add and remove sub-sects as well as provide internal reservation.”
He added: “Without an amendment to Article 341(3), it is impossible to decide on providing internal reservations. Parliament is the only authority in this matter. The state government can only recommend.”
He also said that the state government would not disturb Bhovi, Banjara, Khorama, and Korava in the caste list of SCs.
“We are in favour of SCs, STs, and Backward Classes (BCs). There is no political benefit to it. We are only committed to social justice,” said the social welfare minister.
The previous BJP government led by Basavaraj Bommai, in its last Cabinet meeting before the May 2023 Karnataka Assembly election, gave its nod to internal reservation within the SC quota of 17 percent, earmarking 6 percent reservation for SC Left, 5.5 percent for SC Right, 4.5 percent for “touchables”, and 1 percent for others.
Following this decision, violent scenes were witnessed in Shivamogga on 27 March: Members of the Banjara community reportedly pelted stones at the residence of BJP Parliamentary Board member and former chief minister BS Yediyurappa.
The irate mob, hailing from the SC community that is also known as Lambanis, opposed the decision of the Bommai government on internal reservation.
The mob turned violent in front of Yediyurappa’s residence in Shikaripura in the run-up to the Assembly polls.
This caused major embarrassment to the saffron cadre and also damaged its poll prospects.
Meanwhile, nearly five months after launching the Gruha Jyothi scheme, the state government altered the guidelines for it by setting up new limitations for electricity usage by all the beneficiaries.
The Congress had announced the Gruha Jyothi scheme in the run-up to the Assembly polls, assuring that beneficiaries would be provided up to 200 units of free electricity.
While launching the scheme on 5 August last year, the government said that it would consider the 12-month average of a beneficiary’s electricity usage, allowing them to utilise an additional 10 percent for free.
Now, the government has changed the user guidelines by stating that beneficiaries are allowed to utilise only 10 units of additional electricity instead of 10 percent, Minister HK Patil told reporters.
The Siddaramaiah Cabinet on Thursday also okayed naming 12th-century social reformer Basavanna as the cultural leader of Karnataka.
Minister for Forest, Ecology, and Environment Eshwar Khandre told reporters: “Basavanna, through his works, taught society about freedom, equality, and harmony. He also worked for women’s empowerment and fought against superstition. He was also the first to build an Anubhava Mantapa, which was open to all castes and religions.”
The @siddaramaiah-led- @INCKarnataka cabinet gives nod to name 12th century social reformer Basavanna as the cultural leader of #Karnataka.
Several Lingayat pontiffs and political leaders had met the @siddaramaiah recently & appealed to announce Basavanna as the Karnataka’s… pic.twitter.com/MpZ9KcNgAM
— South First (@TheSouthfirst) January 18, 2024
He added: “I am thankful to the chief minister, deputy chief minister, and the Cabinet for making this announcement. We have decided to name him Karnataka’s cultural leader considering his contributions to the welfare of society.”
Khandre also said: “It is also the need of the hour because of the contaminated environment in society and fights and animosity between religions. We believe that Basavanna’s works and teachings will strengthen our democracy and the Constitution.”
It may be noted that several prominent Lingayat pontiffs and leaders met Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and demanded that he declare Basavanna as the cultural leader of Karnataka. Even Minister for IT and BT Priyank Kharge penned a letter in this regard to him.
Following Thursday’s Cabinet meeting, the state government announced the Legislative Council elections for the Bengaluru Teachers’ Constituency, which is scheduled for 16 February.
The Cabinet also okayed providing tax concessions to vehicle owners who scrapped their old rides (as per the centre’s policy) and purchased electric vehicles.
Those who purchased an electric two-wheeler would be given a ₹1,000-10,000 tax concession based on the price of the vehicle.
Meanwhile, those who purchased an electric four-wheeler would be given tax concessions ranging from ₹10,000 to ₹50,000, considering the price range of the vehicle.
The Cabinet also okayed the state government setting up the Karnataka Motor Transport Other Allied Workers Social Security Board for the welfare of workers employed in the transport sector — especially gig workers.
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