Karnataka- Violent protests over reservation, BJP-Congress blame each other

Bangalore / Kalaburagi. A political tussle broke out between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress on Tuesday over the violent protests by Banjaras in Shikaripura in Shivamogga district. Both the parties blamed each other for the violent protests. Four police personnel were injured in Shikaripura on Monday when thousands of people from the Banjara community were protesting against the state government’s decision on internal reservation for Scheduled Castes (SCs). Later this demonstration turned violent. Some window panes of the house of former Chief Minister and Shikaripura MLA BS Yeddyurappa were damaged in the stone pelting. State Congress president DK Shivakumar linked the stone pelting at Yeddyurappa’s house to an ‘internal conspiracy’ in the BJP, while Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai hit back saying there was evidence to prove that Congress leaders were behind it. There were people and the violence was planned.

To a question, Bommai said, ‘What is he (Shivakumar) saying? Congress is plotting everywhere. Those who have been caught at the local level are all from the Congress. What does Congress leader DK Shivakumar have to say about this? The Chief Minister said, “The act of Congress leaders was caught on camera… The people of (Banjara) community were not aware, they (Congress) spread false news that the community would be removed from the SC list and instigated them. It was systematically planned after a meeting last night. There is evidence of what I am saying. State Home Minister Araga Gyanendra also alleged that some parties were trying to take political advantage and the police were questioning those involved in the incident. He said, ‘Shikaripura incident is unfortunate, it happened due to instigation by some people. One cannot expect innocent people to indulge in such acts. I have information that some people with political interests were behind this incident. Inquiries are being made in this regard.

Home Minister Araga Gyanendra said, 4-5 people are behind this incident
Gyanendra said, “People involved in four to five other cases are behind this incident…Innocent people were instigated…It is not right to pelt stones at the police, at Yediyurappa’s residence. Everyone should maintain peace. The cabinet on Friday recommended internal quota of 6 per cent for SC (Left), 5.5 per cent for SC (Right), 4.5 per cent for untouchables (Banjara, Bhovi, Korcha, Kuruma etc.) and one per cent for others. The recommendation will be sent to the Central Government. A section of Scheduled Castes is demanding internal reservation. They allege that only a few dominant sub-castes are reaping most of the benefits, while many communities are still marginalised. Commenting on Monday’s incident in Shikaripura, Shivakumar claimed that the stone-pelting at Yediyurappa’s house was due to BJP’s internal politics to eliminate him politically.

Shivakumar accuses CM Bommai of creating confusion
Shivakumar said, ‘Yeddyurappa is not the chief minister, he is not a part of the government. The Chief Minister (Bommai) has created a lot of confusion on the issue of reservation. Now the BJP and the Union Home Minister (Amit Shah) want to bring him to the centre, in a way he (Shah) admitted to neglecting him (Yeddyurappa), so he went to his house for breakfast recently….lots of internal There are things. Shivakumar claimed that if stones were pelted at the chief minister’s house or those in power, it was a different matter as it was seen as an expression of anger, but stone pelting at Yediyurappa’s house meant internal fighting.

Wrong decisions will create rift between communities
Hitting out at the government’s decision to scrap the 4 per cent reservation for Muslims under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) quota and divide it equally between the Vokkaliga and Lingayat communities, Shivakumar alleged that the move was against the ‘Backward Classes Commission’. done without the report of Shivakumar said, ‘We will not accept this, our government will come to power after 40 days, we will end it.’ Commenting on the violence, former Chief Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) leader HD Kumaraswamy said, the BJP-led government created such a situation, they have to rectify it. He said reservation should not be given for politics or votes, as wrong decisions would create rift between communities. Kumaraswamy said, “I appreciate the Muslim community, if they had come on the streets against the government’s decision to scrap their 4 per cent reservation under the OBC list, it would have worsened the situation…It would have been a bloodbath in the society.” BJP has low level politics.

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Tags: BJP, CM Basavaraj Bommai, congress, DK Shivakumar, Karnataka