Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has reaffirmed his government’s commitment to providing internal reservations within the Scheduled Castes (SC) community.
Speaking to reporters, Siddaramaiah explained that the Supreme Court has mandated internal reservations and addressed concerns about the lack of data.
“A commission led by Justice Nagmohan Das has been set up to examine the matter. We are committed to implementing internal reservations,” he said.
In November, the government appointed retired High Court judge Justice H.N. Nagmohan Das to lead a commission that will recommend how to distribute reservations within SC communities. Many groups, especially the 'SC Left,' argue that only a few dominant sub-castes benefit from reservations while others remain marginalised.
The Supreme Court, in a landmark August 2024 verdict, ruled that states have the constitutional authority to create sub-classifications within SCs to ensure fair distribution of benefits to the most socially and educationally backward groups.
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Leadership and cabinet changes
Amid speculation about a leadership change in Karnataka, Siddaramaiah said any decisions about the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president or the chief minister's role would be made by the Congress high command.
Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, who has held the KPCC president role for over four years, continues on an extension.
Regarding the vacant cabinet position left by Minister B. Nagendra, who resigned following allegations in a scam, Siddaramaiah said, “I will consult with the high command to fill the vacancy.”
Panchayat polls and speculation over dinner meeting
On the Taluk and Zilla Panchayat elections, the Chief Minister said the matter is before the court and that the government is prepared to conduct the polls once a decision is made.
When asked about a dinner he attended with Dalit cabinet colleagues, Siddaramaiah dismissed rumors of political discussions.
“Is meeting over food wrong? People eat together all the time, whether vegetarian or non-vegetarian. It’s unfair that political meetings are judged differently,” he said, adding there were no political agendas discussed during the dinner.
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