Bengaluru, Sept 10: The demand for 5% internal reservation by the Korama, Koracha, Banjara, and Bhovi communities intensified at Freedom Park today, with protesters accusing the Karnataka government of injustice in the current allocation of quotas. After day-long agitation, leaders have issued a one-week deadline for the government to act, warning of a much larger movement if their demands are ignored.
Protest Highlights
Protesters claimed that a total of 63 nomadic and semi-nomadic communities have faced injustice in the internal reservation framework. The four communities submitted a memorandum to Social Welfare Minister Ramalinga Reddy, who was sent as the government’s representative after initial reluctance from authorities to engage directly.
One protester attempted self-immolation by pouring diesel, but was rescued and rushed to hospital. The incident highlighted the intensity of the agitation.
ಇದನ್ನೂ ಓದಿ: Freedom Park protest demand 5% internal reservation: ರಾಜ್ಯ ಸರಕಾರಕ್ಕೆ ಒಂದು ವಾರದ ಗಡುವು: ಪಿ. ರಾಜೀವ್
Key Demands of Protesters
- Allocation of 5% internal reservation for the four communities.
- Removal of discriminatory references such as “touchable” and “untouchable” from official reports.
- Equal treatment and fair inclusion of nomadic and semi-nomadic communities in the reservation framework.
Government’s Response
Ramalinga Reddy, after receiving the memorandum, assured protesters that the issue would be brought to the Chief Minister’s attention. He urged them to call off their protest temporarily. Protest leaders agreed, but warned that if no decision is taken within seven days, they will launch an even more intensified statewide agitation.
Background of the Agitation
On September 2, a larger protest involving 59 nomadic and semi-nomadic groups was already held, setting the stage for today’s demonstration. Leaders like P. Rajeev were briefly detained during attempts to march towards the Vidhana Soudha, but were later released following pressure from community leaders and swamijis who backed the protest.
The demand for 5% internal reservation has now put the state government in a tight spot, as it weighs political and social implications.
ಇದನ್ನೂ ಓದಿ: Freedom Park protest Bengaluru: ಸಿಎಂ ಕುರ್ಚಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಕುಳಿತು ನ್ಯಾಯ ಕೊಡುವುದು ಮುಖ್ಯ: ಬಿ.ವೈ.ವಿಜಯೇಂದ್ರ ಅಭಿಪ್ರಾಯ
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