SC internal reservation: Religious heads spearheading campaign of their communities

As the State government attempts to address challenges in the reservation matrix, communities — led by their religious heads — will be flexing their strength in Bengaluru this week. A special meeting of the State Cabinet on Friday is set to consider internal reservation within 15% quota for Scheduled Castes even as it has reduced the overall reservation quota to 50% from 56% in view of cases pending in Karnataka High Court.

The Cabinet is divided over the issue with Dalit Left and Dalit Right Ministers taking divergent views, and efforts are on to bring a consensus among the factions to agree to a reasonable sub-classification matrix.

Sources said that the special Cabinet meeting is likely to discuss on a reservation ratio of 5.3% each to Dalit Left and Dalit Right, and 4.4% to the touchable castes the within 15% quota.

Chitradurga-based Adijambava Mutt seer Shadakshari Muni Swami, the religious head for Madigas, is on his way to Bengaluru on a padayatra seeking implementation of internal reservation within the 15% reservation quota in one of the largest recruitments drive of the State in recent history. According to his aides in the padayatra, which started on March 11 from Harihara in Davangere, the seer will halt in Sira on Sunday night, and will reach just before the special Cabinet meeting.

Meanwhile, Madiga leaders have been meeting Cabinet Ministers to explain their stand and seeking their support in the Cabinet.

The reservation quota has come under intense pressure as the government announced initiating recruitment process to fill 56,432 posts with the 50% overall reservation quota prevailing before 2022 and also without internal reservation within the 15% quota for Scheduled Castes.

The Dalit Left (Madigas) faction is insisting on the internal reservation even as the Dalit Right (Holeyas) and the touchable castes of Banjaras/ Lambanis, Bhovis, Koramas, and Korachas are opposed to internal reservation ahead of Friday’s special Cabinet meeting.

On Tuesday, Immadi Siddarameshwara Swami of Bhovi Gurupeetha and Sardar Sevalal Swami, head of Banjara Peetha, are set to lead a protest in Bengaluru against the internal reservation, while welcoming the government’s decision to proceed with the 50% reservation matrix.

“The internal reservation should not be implemented till the Census 2027 report comes out. It is unfair to our communities and decisions should not be taken under pressure and unilaterally,” Karnataka Reservation Protection Federation general secretary Ravi K. Pujar said on Sunday, adding that the two seers will be participating in the rally.

Adijambava Mutt seer Shadakshari Muni Swami during a padayatra near Sira. The seer is on a padayatra from Harihara to Bengaluru seeking internal reservation.
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special arrangement

Dalit Right (Holeyas) communities led by seer of Urilingi Peddi Mutt’s Mysuru branch Jnanaprakash Swami on Wednesday will stage a protest rally in Freedom Park seeking rejection of the H.N. Nagamohan Das Commission’s report based on which the government sliced up the internal reservation matrix.

The seer, who heads the Karnataka State Right Community’s Castes Federation, has sought rejection of the Das Commission’s report, and has urged the government not to introduce internal reservation within 15% reservation quota for SCs.

BJP defers padayatra

Meanwhile, the BJP, which a fortnight ago announced a padayatra to Bengaluru from Chitradurga in protest against reducing reservation matrix from Sunday, deferred the padayatra awaiting the government’s decision on Friday.

According to party general secretary P. Rajeev, since the government was yet to take a final decision, the padayatra has been deferred. “If they take a decision to bring down reservation from 56 % to 50 %, we will launch the padayatra,” he said.