JOIN USSeven-time MLC and senior JD(S) leader Basavaraj Horatti has charged that the Congress government is trying to divide people of Karnataka on the basis of caste.
He told reporters on Monday that through the caste census, the government wishes to create more divisions within religions, castes and sub-castes.
Giving the example of Lingayat community, Horatti said the government wants to identify Lingayat Banajigar, Lingayat Ganiger, Lingyayat Sadar and other sub-sects of Lingayat community as separate communities and provide them reservation. He said the JD(S) would oppose the government’s proposal of increasing reservation for SC/STs and OBCs from the current 50% to 70%. This is against the Supreme Court order, which limits the caste-based reservation to 50%.
Lashing out at Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who has been citing the case of Tamil Nadu which has 69% reservation, Horatti said the neighbouring state had increased the quota before the Supreme Court pronounced its order on limiting the caste-based reservation.
“We don’t support caste-based reservation as it creates more rift in the society,” he said and added that the benefit of reservation should be provided on the basis of economic status, irrespective of caste.