Government committed on quota issue: Karnataka CM amid protests by Panchamasalis

Bommai also accused the Congress, the Opposition in the state, of trying to reap benefits from caste politics.

The issue at hand

The Panchamasali community wants to be included in Category 2A (15 percent quota) of the OBC reservation matrix. Earlier, they were under the 3B category (5 percent), which have now been abolished.

However, the Karnataka Cabinet on 29 December 2022 decided to create two new OBC categories for the Vokkaligas and the Lingayats (as a whole), and said that it has planned to meet their reservation demand by utilising a portion of the 10 percent Economically Weaker Section (EWS) quota.

As per the Cabinet decision, the Vokkaligas, who were under Category 3A of the OBC list, will now be placed under the new Category 2C, while the Veerashaiva-Lingayats, who were under Category 3B, will be put in Category 2D.

The existing Categories 3A and 3B will be done away with. This Cabinet’s decision has been stayed by the high court, which ordered a status quo on the matter.

For the people

“The government is working with commitment on the reservation issue. Within a week after the Backward Classes Commission submitted its report, it was placed before the Cabinet and in-principle approval was given to it. Based on the demands, an announcement was made to include those communities under category two and to increase their reservation,” Bommai stated.

Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, he said this is his government’s first step in the right direction and shows its commitment.

“To enhance the reservation, there are certain Supreme Court directions and rules under the Constitution. The Backward Classes Commission should submit its report (final) after collecting empirical data and analysing the situation regarding employment and education. We have asked the final report to be submitted soon. We are committed and there is no need for any doubts,” he added.

Also Read: Panchamasali sect opposes new 2D category announced for it

Panchamasali protest

On Friday, members of the Panchamasali community — led by Kudalasangama Panchamasali Peetha seer Basava Jaya Mrutyunjaya — staged a sit-in protest at the Kittur Rani Chennamma Circle at Shiggaon, Haveri, demanding 2A category for the community.

They burnt effigies of the chief minister and his predecessor BS Yediyurappa, raising slogans against the Karnataka government.

Stating that it is a huge responsibility on the government as justice should be done to all communities and injustice should not be done to any one, Bommai said, “We have done what we could have within a week, after getting the interim report. No government can act faster than this.”

Caste politics?

Going a step further, Bommai questioned why the Congress did not fulfil the demands of the Panchamasalis while in power.

He said that when Siddaramaiah was the chief minister and Lingayat Panchamasali Mahasabha president Vijayanand Kashappanavar — who is leading the protest — was a Congress MLA, the Backward Classes Commission had rejected their application in 2016 to include the Panchamasalis under Category 2A.

“The Congress is trying to reap political benefits in this caste politics,” he claimed, alleging that attempts are on to vitiate the atmosphere unnecessarily when the government is making honest efforts to enhance reservation for the community.

Also Read: Quota agitations in poll-bound Karnataka: Absurdity of demands

Against their own

Reacting to senior BJP MLA Basangouda Patil Yatnal, who is at the forefront of the Panchamasali agitation, allegedly calling one of the ministers a “pimp”, the chief minister said that making such personal attacks against someone is not Karnataka’s political culture.

To a question on whether any action will be taken against Yatnal, he said that the party is observing everything and will take the right decision.

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