Internal quota: Dalit Left communities and STs gear up for protests in Karnataka

As the State government has asked recruitment departments/authorities to initiate recruitment for 56,432 posts with a cap of 50% in reservation and without internal reservation among Scheduled Castes, the Dalit Left communities and Scheduled Tribes affected by the decision are gearing up for protests against the decision.

They could demand resignation of Dalit Left Ministers in the Siddaramaiah-led Cabinet, K.H. Muniyappa and R.B. Thimmapur, to build pressure on the government. They are also planning to approach the court.

While the Dalit Left communities that have fought for internal reservation for nearly four decades are upset at the DPAR notification that has asked the recruitment departments/authorities to go ahead with notifications as per 50% reservation cap and without internal reservation, the ST community is incensed at its quota being brought down from 7% to the earlier 3%.

R.B. Thimmapur

Activists from these communities also indicated that they will coordinate their actions together. Though the government has said that 2% and 4% posts will be reserved for SCs and STs respectively, till the court order, the communities claim that SCs and STs are set to lose about 1,128 and 2,257 posts, respectively, in the current recruitment cycle.

In 9th schedule

“We do not want the government to start the recruitment process without 7% reservation. The State government should urge the Centre to bring the 56% reservation in the 9th^{Schedule. The 7% reservation was based on our population. The community will stand to lose if the recruitment goes ahead,” said Deepak Palegar, president of Mysuru-based Ekalavya Vidyarthi Yuvajana Parishat, a youth organistion of the Valmiki community.}

“When both 56% reservation and internal reservation for SCs are in court, how can the government hold recruitment for 50%? Is it legal? We will protest and also seek legal recourse against the recruitment process,” said parishat general secretary Prahalad Palegar.

Members of the parishat on Monday also met V.S. Ugrappa, former MP, to discuss the future course of action.

Meanwhile, several Dalit (Left) organisations have come together under the Federation of Madiga Sanghas to fight against dropping internal reservation from the reservation matrix.

Protests planned

While the Committee for Internal Reservation for Social Justice has already announced a rally on March 11 in Bengaluru and a padayatra from Tumakuru to Bengaluru, it is also coordinating with other organisations to call for a State-wide bandh protesting the decision. The outline of future protests will be decided on Tuesday, committee coordinator Basavaraj Kowthal said.