JOIN USTo organise public movement against 4.5 per cent reservation for minorities
The State BJP will launch a massive state-wide public movement if the UPA government does not withdraw its proposal to provide 4.5 per cent sub-quota for minorities within the 27 per cent reservation for OBCs.
At a convention organised by the party’s Backward Classes Morcha, the top leaders of the State BJP vehemently opposed the UPA government’s move saying the 4.5 pc sub-quota will eat into OBCs’ share of reservation in employment and education.
Friday’s convention witnessed Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda, party State president K S Eshwarappa, former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa, BJP National General Secretary Ananthkumar and BJP National General Secretary in-charge of the State, Dharmendra Pradhan, coming together to share the same platform.
Addressing the convention, which had been organised to serve as a platform for leaders from various backward communities to unite and fight the decision of the UPA government, Eshwarappa gave a call to his party workers to hit the streets to protect the right of the OBCs. He said the movement should be launched at the booth level and termed the move as Congress’ minority appeasement policy.
He said the sub-quota for minorities infringed upon the Constitutional right of the OBCs. “Injustice is being meted out to the OBCs and the Congress leaders in the State are answerable to the people. The day may not be far when people will chase Congress leaders and attack them,” Eshwarappa said. He said the party will meet Governor H R Bhardwaj next week and request him to impress upon the Centre against going ahead with its sub-quota proposal. The party will also take a delegation to New Delhi to meet the President and the Prime Minister on the issue, he said.
Ananthkumar said the UPA government was even planning to introduce a Constitutional amendment bill during the budget session of Parliament to provide reservation on religious lines.
“We will not allow any such move and oppose the same from the streets to Parliament,” Ananthkumar said.
The convention also served as a platform for the ruling BJP to pat its own back on its performance in social welfare schemes during the last three and half years. Yeddyurappa said at least 48 lakh people belonging to the OBCs were directly benefitting from the State government schemes.
Sadananda Gowda said the government will make efforts to ensure that the budgetary allocation for OBCs crosses the Rs 1,000-crore mark for the fiscal 2012-13.
The allocation earmarked during the previous budget for OBCs was Rs 750 crore, he said.
Thursday’s Cabinet decision to increase the income limit for OBCs to Rs 3.5 lakh from Rs two lakh per annum to avail reservation benefits was also highlighted at the convention.