Congress agreed ‘in principle’ for 1% quota: Nomadic Scheduled Caste leaders

Representatives of nomadic Scheduled Caste (SC) communities from the state, who have camped in Delhi for nearly 15 days seeking a separate 1% reservation, decided on Wednesday to return home after the Congress agreed “in-principle” to provide 1% reservation for 59 most backward SC communities.

The delegation wasn’t able to meet Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, who was in Shimla, and AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, who isn’t well.

They held “fruitful” discussions with veteran Congressman and MLC B K Hariprasad in Delhi and placed three demands — 1% reservation to 59 communities categorised as ‘most backward’ by the H N  Nagamohan Das Commission, separate corporation for 49 nomadic and semi-nomadic communities that doesn’t include Korma and Korcha communities and a comprehensive package for them.

Hariprasad assured the delegation to arrange a meeting immediately after Deepavali with CM Siddaramaiah, Social Welfare Minister Dr H C Mahadevappa and others, where AICC general secretary (Karnataka incharge) Randeep Singh Surjewala, Hariprasad and K Raju, AICC’s national coordinator for SC/ST, OBC and minorities department, will be present.

Congress leaders reportedly promised the nomadic community leaders that a meeting with Rahul Gandhi could be arranged if that with the CM doesn’t bear fruit.

A press note by Karnataka Federation of Untouchable Nomadic Communities said Hariprasad, on Wednesday, had arranged a conference call with Congress general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal, Surjewala and Dr Mahadevappa.

It said Mahadevappa promised to address their problems and requested them to return to the state. 

Though the federation decided to come back, they warned that they would travel to Delhi again if their demands weren’t met.

Hariprasad told DH, “They placed three demands. I spoke to all leaders concerned. I spoke to Mahadevappa, we have decided to have a meeting with the chief minister and then take a call”.

‘Hike in overall quota’

He said the government might provide a separate 1% reservation to the nomadic communities by recommending to the union government to hike the overall reservation for SCs in Karnataka from 17% to 18%.