Bengaluru: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday strongly criticised the Congress government in Karnataka for reducing the overall Scheduled Caste (SC) reservation from 17 percent to 15 percent and lowering allocations to key sub-categories, terming the revised internal quota formula as unjust to several communities.
Cabinet Approves New Internal Distribution
On Friday, the cabinet led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah approved an internal distribution within the 15 percent SC quota. Under the new formula, 5.25 percent each has been allocated to right-hand and left-hand groups, while approximately 4.5 percent has been set aside for other SC communities, including nomadic groups.
BJP President's Allegations
BJP state president BY Vijayendra said the revised formula reduces earlier allocations. He alleged that Category 'A' quota has been cut from 6 percent to 5.25 percent and Category 'B' from 5.5 percent to 5.25 percent. He added that several communities have been grouped under Category 'C', with their share reduced to about 4.5 percent instead of the previous 5.5 percent.
Vijayendra claimed that the previous BJP government had increased SC reservation to 17 percent, while the present dispensation had agreed to reduce it to 15 percent. He also alleged that implementation of internal reservation was delayed for over two-and-a-half years, affecting recruitment despite large vacancies.
BJP MP Questions Basis of Decision
BJP MP Govind Karjol questioned the basis of the cabinet decision, stating that the Justice H N Nagamohan Das Committee had recommended a higher allocation. He said earlier reports, including those by the AJ Sadashiva Commission and a Cabinet sub-committee under former chief minister Basavaraj Bommai, as well as a Supreme Court directive, had not been reflected in the revised formula.
Karjol termed the decision arbitrary justice and alleged it could create divisions among SC sub-castes. Other BJP functionaries also criticised the government over delays in recruitment linked to the implementation of internal reservation.
