<p class="bodytext">A delegation of Congress leaders from the ‘touchable’ Dalit communities (Bhovi, Banjara, Korma and Korcha) urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday to not implement internal reservation for Scheduled Castes (SCs) in a “hurry.”</p>.<p class="bodytext">Deputy Speaker in the Legislative Assembly Rudrappa Lamani, former MLC Prakash Rathod, former minister B T Lalitha Nayak and others met Siddaramaiah and urged the CM to place the report before the public.</p>.<p class="bodytext">They noted that objections from all 101 communities amongst SCs must be obtained, and changes must be made accordingly. </p>.<p class="bodytext">The development comes as the leaked findings of the Justice Nagamohan Das Commission have recommended a 4% reservation for the ‘touchable’ Dalits, while 6% has been recommended to SC (Left) and 5% to SC (Right) out of the 17% reservation for Dalits.</p>. Justice Nagamohan Das Commission report lists nearly 50 castes 'most backward' .<p class="bodytext">‘Touchable’ community leaders are miffed with it and are seeking a larger share of the pie. Siddaramaiah is said to have assured the delegation that the report will be studied in the Cabinet on Thursday, adding that no community will be made to suffer.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Earlier on Wednesday, these leaders held a press conference. “When the BJP provided 4.5% reservation to these four communities, there had been protests at former chief minister B S Yediyurappa’s residence. Some protestors even threw stones at his house. These four communities worked for the Congress’ victory, and have played a decisive role in over 75 constituencies,” Rathod said. </p>.<p class="bodytext">Stating that the ‘touchable’ Dalits were found to constitute 4.68% of the 17% SC population, Rathod urged the government to at least provide 5% reservation.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“No recommendation by any commission or panel is final. It’s up to the Cabinet to discuss its merits and demerits and arrive at a decision. Everybody should be taken into confidence, and we hope that no decision is taken immediately,” Lamani said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The decision to restructure the reservation matrix backfired for the BJP, which crashed to 66 seats in the 2023 Assembly elections. Currently, Congress has 21 SC MLAs, while the BJP has 12.</p>
<p class="bodytext">A delegation of Congress leaders from the ‘touchable’ Dalit communities (Bhovi, Banjara, Korma and Korcha) urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday to not implement internal reservation for Scheduled Castes (SCs) in a “hurry.”</p>.<p class="bodytext">Deputy Speaker in the Legislative Assembly Rudrappa Lamani, former MLC Prakash Rathod, former minister B T Lalitha Nayak and others met Siddaramaiah and urged the CM to place the report before the public.</p>.<p class="bodytext">They noted that objections from all 101 communities amongst SCs must be obtained, and changes must be made accordingly. </p>.<p class="bodytext">The development comes as the leaked findings of the Justice Nagamohan Das Commission have recommended a 4% reservation for the ‘touchable’ Dalits, while 6% has been recommended to SC (Left) and 5% to SC (Right) out of the 17% reservation for Dalits.</p>. Justice Nagamohan Das Commission report lists nearly 50 castes 'most backward' .<p class="bodytext">‘Touchable’ community leaders are miffed with it and are seeking a larger share of the pie. Siddaramaiah is said to have assured the delegation that the report will be studied in the Cabinet on Thursday, adding that no community will be made to suffer.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Earlier on Wednesday, these leaders held a press conference. “When the BJP provided 4.5% reservation to these four communities, there had been protests at former chief minister B S Yediyurappa’s residence. Some protestors even threw stones at his house. These four communities worked for the Congress’ victory, and have played a decisive role in over 75 constituencies,” Rathod said. </p>.<p class="bodytext">Stating that the ‘touchable’ Dalits were found to constitute 4.68% of the 17% SC population, Rathod urged the government to at least provide 5% reservation.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“No recommendation by any commission or panel is final. It’s up to the Cabinet to discuss its merits and demerits and arrive at a decision. Everybody should be taken into confidence, and we hope that no decision is taken immediately,” Lamani said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The decision to restructure the reservation matrix backfired for the BJP, which crashed to 66 seats in the 2023 Assembly elections. Currently, Congress has 21 SC MLAs, while the BJP has 12.</p>
