Siddu cries hypocrisy over Centre’s reply on SC internal reservation

Maqsood Maniyar | NT

Bengaluru: The tug of war over internal reservation for Scheduled Castes (SC) was reignited on Thursday as CM Siddaramaiah claimed the BJP was being hypocritical on the issue.

He cited a reply by Union Minister of State for Social Empowerment and Karnataka native A Narayanaswamy to Rajya Sabha BJP MP GVL Narasimha Rao. The minister claimed that internal reservation was “not permissible” under the Constitution.

Sadashiva Commission set up in 2005

The reply assumes importance as Karnataka constituted the Sadashiva Commission as early as 2005 under the Dharam Singhled Congress-JD(S) government to study the need for internal reservation for SCs in Karnataka.

The report was tabled before the Sadananda Gowda-led BJP government in 2012 and the recommendations included sub-categorisation of the different castes within the SC quota.

In Karnataka, the SCs include Holeyas and 24 sub-castes who constitute a third of the 101 entries, Madigas and 29 related castes who make up another third, Dalit castes unassociated with either who are about 4.65 per cent and “touchable SCs” such as Bhovis, Lambanis, Koracha and Koramas who historically led nomadic lifestyles.

The latter had been categorized as SCs in the Mysuru princely state of old under the Wodeyars with the reasoning that the castes in question were economically backward.

Madigas and associated sub-castes are in favour of internal reservation claiming that communities better off than them were cornering the quota pie. The Banjaras oppose it because they stand to lose.

The criticism against Siddaramaiah is that he sat on the report and didn’t implement it though he ruled for a rare full five-year term. Congress’ assertion is that BJP’s promise to implement the Sadashiva Commission is misleading since no legislature has the power to do so.

Moreover, internal reservation is pending before the Supreme Court since 2020.

Not permissible, says Union minister

“Sub-categorisation of Scheduled Castes is not permissible under the existing provisions of the constitution,” Narayanaswamy said, adding that discussions on the same were being had with states and union territories.

Siddaramaiah saw this reply as an opening and slammed the BJP, citing inconsistencies in the party’s stand in the state and at the Centre.

“Lies and hypocrisy of BJP exposed again in the reply to a question raised in the Rajya Sabha on Internal Reservation for SCs. Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment A Narayanaswamy stated internal reservation is not possible under the Constitution. Then how did BJP Karnataka send the proposal for internal reservation to the Union government in March?” the CM asked.