Bengaluru: Sounding a strong warning to the Karnataka government, leaders of the Madiga community announced a statewide protest on August 1 outside Deputy Commissioners’ offices in all districts, demanding the implementation of internal reservations within the Scheduled Castes.
Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, former Union Minister A. Narayanaswamy said the protest was meant to highlight the government’s delay despite the Supreme Court having delivered its verdict on August 1 last year. “If the Cabinet does not pass the internal reservation proposal by August 10, the Madiga community will decide on a Karnataka bandh, to be finalized after a meeting of 4,000 to 5,000 people,” he warned.
Narayanaswamy accused the Congress government of betraying the Madigas and said an asahayoga andolana (non-cooperation movement) would be launched. “The Chief Minister himself had earlier admitted that Congress lost elections due to failure to implement internal reservation. The same mistake is being repeated,” he said.
He also recalled that Telangana had implemented internal reservation for Madigas back in 1999, following legal challenges, and even the Andhra Pradesh and Punjab governments have taken similar steps. “Yet the Karnataka government continues to delay with excuses,” he added.
The Nagamohan Das Commission, set up by the state to study the issue, had been given 40 days to submit its report, but six months have passed without implementation. Narayanaswamy alleged that the government had not even provided essential socio-political data to the commission, nor shown cooperation.
Former Deputy Chief Minister and BJP MP Govind Karjol demanded that the government implement the internal reservation from August 16 and not provoke agitation. “This is a make-or-break moment – a ‘Madu illavandre Madi Horata’ (Do or Die Protest),” Karjol declared.
He also reminded that the Congress had promised internal reservation in its 2023 election manifesto and approved it in its first Cabinet meeting. “But now they hide behind technical excuses and the slow pace of the commission’s report,” he said.
Karjol and Narayanaswamy both condemned the Congress for failing to provide justice to backward communities, despite having ruled the state for decades. “Even after four years and ten months, there has been no panchayat election for backward classes. What justice has been delivered?” Karjol questioned.
BJP state spokesperson H. Venkatesh Doddare, SC Morcha Vice-President Hoodi Manjunath, and leader Santosh were also present.
