JD(S) wants state to hike quota for STs from 3% to 7.5%

The state should take cue from the Centre and increase the extent of reservation for the Scheduled Tribes from 3% to 7.5%, said JD(S) ST cell state president Hodigere Ramesh.

In a press meet held here on Sunday, he said, “The population of Valmiki communities is 60 lakh. Most of them are denied reservation facility. In such scenario, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is trying to create rift between the communities by including more groups/communities in the Scheduled Tribes list.”

He demanded the government to release the Caste Census report and uphold social justice.

“JD(S) national president H D Devegowda in 1991 made sure the splinter groups of the Valmiki community are included in ST list. Because of which, the community made good strides in politics, education, employment,” Hodigere Ramesh said.

He said that the then chief minister Kumaraswamy had provided the much-needed assistance for procuring land to establish Maharshi Valmiki Gurupeeth at Rajanahalli and added that the community should support the party and Kumaraswamy, who have played a big role in helping the Valmiki community make strides in various fields of human endeavour.

Mega convention on July 1

The JD(S) leader said that the ST cell of the party will organise a mega convention in Davangere on July 1. As many as 500 buses have been arranged to ferry the people from various taluks to Davangere convention.

Party leaders Chennigappa, Chikkanayakanahalli MLA Sureshbabu, Patel Shivaram, Govindaraj, Narasegowda and others were present.

Chennigappa dismisses Reddy’s kickback charge

Former Forest minister and JD(S) leader Chennigappa on Sunday dismissed the allegations made by BJP leader Janardhan Reddy that the then chief minister H D Kumaraswamy had received a kickback of Rs 150 crore from mining companies, saying that the charges made by Reddy are false and concocted. In a press meet here, the JD(S) leader said, “We played no role in Janthakal Mining case.

We (Kumaraswamy, M P Prakash and Chennigappa) have not received even 150 paise, leave alone, Rs 150 crore. The opposition parties, unable to digest the popularity of JD(S), are doing so to bring disrepute to the party.”