Bengaluru, October 13 (Daily Kiran) : Former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has condemned the BJP for the cancellation of increased reservations for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) by the Karnataka High Court. He stated that the previous BJP government acted hastily without ensuring adequate legal and constitutional safeguards.
In a statement, Siddaramaiah expressed that the High Court’s decision dealt a blow to marginalized communities that have faced generations of inequality. While he respects the court’s ruling, he criticized the BJP for its rushed decision to increase reservations without proper groundwork.
He pointed out that the BJP was aware of the Supreme Court‘s ruling in the Indra Sawhney case, which stated that total reservations should not exceed 50 percent. Nevertheless, ahead of the 2023 assembly elections, the party raised SC reservations from 15 percent to 17 percent and ST reservations from 3 percent to 7 percent.
Siddaramaiah questioned, “Why was there such haste in increasing reservations without adequate constitutional protections? Was electoral gain more important to the BJP than social justice?”
He highlighted that the Justice Nagamohan Das committee, formed during the Congress government, had laid the groundwork for increasing reservations. The demand for enhanced reservations arose not from political generosity but from the long-standing struggle of marginalized communities for equal opportunities.
Siddaramaiah also criticized the central government for rejecting Karnataka’s request to include the increased reservations in the Constitution’s Ninth Schedule, citing the case being pending in court. He urged the center to clarify what constitutional solution it proposes to protect these reservations.
He emphasized the necessity for adequate representation for minorities, backward classes, and Dalits, collectively referred to as the ‘AHINDA’ group in Karnataka politics. The benefits of reservations and their participation in the social mainstream should not be compromised.
Siddaramaiah reiterated that without social and economic equality, political democracy remains incomplete. He stated, “Reservations are not a charity. They are a constitutional means to rectify historical injustices and ensure proper representation for marginalized groups.”
He urged the central government not to be bound by the 50 percent cap on reservations and to increase them in accordance with population ratios, thereby providing constitutional protection. Additionally, he called on the state government to take necessary legal steps to uphold the increased reservations and protect the interests of students and job applicants affected by the court’s ruling.
He concluded by saying that the fight for social justice should not be limited to electoral promises and declarations but requires political commitment, constitutional responsibility, and lasting reforms. “Our goal is not just to promise representation but to ensure that the next generation has the opportunity to live a dignified life,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Karnataka BJP President and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra also criticized the Congress government, claiming it has failed to protect the increased reservations for SC and ST communities. In a statement, he said that the government’s weak advocacy has undermined the rights of these communities under social justice.
Vijayendra accused the Congress of lacking a long-term vision for the welfare of scheduled communities, asserting that the decision to increase reservations based on population ratios was made by the previous BJP government under Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai.
He noted that the BJP had increased SC reservations by 2 percent and ST reservations by 4 percent, but the current Congress government has not managed to defend these increases in court. He deemed it unfortunate that the Congress government not only failed to provide additional benefits but also could not safeguard existing reservation advantages.
Vijayendra demanded that the state government take immediate action to appeal the High Court’s decision and ensure the protection of the increased reservations. He warned, “If the government continues to neglect this issue, we will be forced to mobilize on behalf of the scheduled communities.”
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