BJP veteran BS Yediyurappa’s home, office attacked by protesters over reservation

Karnataka,Mar 27 :  Stones were hurled at former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa’s home and office during a protest staged by members of the Banjara and Bhovi communities in Shivamogga district on Monday against the internal reservation for the Scheduled Castes (SCs) announced by the state government.

Prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC have been imposed in Shikaripura town after protesters pelted stones, injuring police officers.

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Police used batons to disperse the large number of protesters, which included women. Some members of the Banjara community, who are also known as Lamani or Lambani, were injured, news agency PTI reported.

The Banjara community has been a significant beneficiary of the SC reservations in the state. However, with the recent announcement by the Basavaraj Bommai-led BJP government, the Banjara community’s share of reservations is threatening to go down.

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The internal reservations announced by the government as per the Sadashiva Commission report have allocated specific quotas to different sub-castes within the SC community. The protesters alleged that less reservation was given to the ‘Scheduled Caste-Touchables’, to which the Banjara community belongs.

The latest move by the Bommai government grants SC (right) 5.5%, SC (left) 6%, and Touchables 4.5% reservations. This move has severely impacted the Banjara community, which earlier received a large share of the 17% SC reservation.

The Banjaras come under the ‘Touchables’ category and are now limited to only 4.5% of the reservation quota.

-PTI