Protest Outside BS Yediyurappa Home: This afternoon in the Shimoga district of Karnataka, a massive demonstration and stone-throwing were reported outside the residence of BJP veteran and former chief minister BS Yediyurappa.
Several hundred Banjara community protesters were depicted in tense images of police repression.
The community is protesting the Karnataka government’s recent decision on Scheduled Caste reservations.
The Basavaraj Bommai-led BJP government has recommended to the central government a revised breakdown of the Scheduled Caste reservation in education and employment. They have recommended that, out of the 17% SC reservation, 6% be allocated to Scheduled Castes (left), 5.5% to Scheduled Castes (right), 4.5% to “touchables,” and 1% to others.
The decision was based on a report by the AJ Sadashiva Commission, which was established in 2005 by the Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) to investigate the necessity of sub-classifying Scheduled Caste reservations in the state.
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Leaders of the Banjara community have asserted that they will suffer as a result of the state government’s decision regarding reservation and have demanded that the state government withdraw its recommendation to the federal government immediately.