One week to act!
Strap: Protesters give Siddaramaiah govt one week to revoke the ‘unjust’ internal reservation classifications for SC communities
Blurb:
Officials sent by the government were turned away, as protestors declared they would march to Vidhana Soudha if CM fails to appear
OB Bureau
The city witnessed high drama midweek as a massive protest over internal reservation within the Scheduled Caste (SC) community brought traffic in the Central District to a standstill. The demonstration, organised under the banner “Bengaluru Chalo,” drew hundreds of agitators to Freedom Park and spilled over onto arterial roads, forcing commuters, including ambulances, into hours-long gridlock.
The protestors, primarily from the Banjara, Bhovi, Koracha, and Korava communities, accused the Congress-led state government of “unscientifically” classifying reservation benefits and denying justice to marginalised groups.
They insisted that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah or Social Welfare Minister H.C. Mahadevappa meet them in person and receive their memorandum. Officials sent by the government were turned away, as protestors declared they would march to Vidhana Soudha if the Chief Minister fails to appear.
The protest quickly escalated, with demonstrators breaking through barricades, occupying the road, and paralysing traffic between Anand Rao Circle and K.R. Circle. Police struggled to control the swelling crowd, deploying additional forces and preparing water cannons as a precautionary measure. Security was tightened around Vidhana Soudha, even as commuters caught unawares were stranded in the chaos.
It was only after BJP leader K. Rajiv intervened that tensions eased. He announced that the agitators had agreed to withdraw temporarily, giving the government one week to reconsider its decision on internal reservation allotments.
“The protestors have halted their agitation, but the government must act within seven days,” Rajiv declared.
BJP steps up attack
The protest also became a political flashpoint, with senior BJP leaders seizing the moment to criticise the Congress government. Addressing the gathering, BJP State President and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra argued that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had failed to uphold the trust reposed in him by the people of Karnataka.
“Honourable Siddaramaiah, it is not important how many days you have been Chief Minister. What matters is whether you have delivered justice to all communities while occupying that chair,” Vijayendra told the crowd. He added, “Being a Chief Minister and demolishing houses is easy, but building one is extremely difficult. The people of this state blessed Congress with power, expecting justice for all Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and nomadic groups. That expectation has been betrayed.”
Vijayendra accused the government of following “exploitative colonial policies”, likening its actions to those of the British. “After coming to power, the Congress has adopted oppressive practices that inflict injustice upon the Banjara, Bhovi, Koracha, Korava, and nomadic communities. Even God cannot forgive such betrayal,” he thundered.
He contrasted the present situation with measures taken under previous BJP governments. During the tenure of Basavaraj Bommai, he pointed out, 4.5% of reservation was set aside to safeguard the interests of marginalised SC groups, with an additional 1% specifically allotted to nomadic communities.
Under B.S. Yediyurappa’s leadership, the Tanda Development Corporation and Bhovi Development Corporation were established to ensure that no group was left behind. “These decisions were aimed at ensuring dignity and development for all, without sowing discord among communities,” Vijayendra emphasised.
One-week ultimatum
The agitators, while suspending their demonstration, have issued a clear ultimatum. They demand that the Congress government rectify the “unjust” classification of internal reservation within a week. Failure to do so, they warned, will result in intensified protests, potentially on a larger scale.
For now, Bangalore has returned to relative normalcy after a day of severe disruption. But the issue has placed the Siddaramaiah government in a tight spot, caught between balancing caste equations and warding off the BJP’s mounting political attacks.
As the deadline ticks, the government faces growing pressure to resolve the impasse without alienating critical voter blocs or allowing the unrest to spiral further.