Stating that there was a need to revise the reservation system in the State, K. Mukadappa, State President of Ahinda has demanded the State Government to amend the law to increase the reservation ceiling from present 50 per cent to 69 percent as done by Tamil Nadu Government.
Addressing presspersons here on Tuesday, he said that the State has many people of ‘upper caste’, which were socially and economically weak.
“The government should extend reservation benefit to them also as they deserve it”, he said.
Asserting that people had this false notion that percentage of reservation cannot be more than fifty, Mr. Mukadappa said that law does permit to increase the percentage.
He said that Tamil Nadu was the best example which has increased the total reservation percentage to 69 per cent by offering the benefit of reservation to various socio-economically weaker communities.
“On similar lines, we urged the Chief Minister to increase the percentage in Karnataka also. The government should increase reservation for Lingayats from five to ten, for Vokkaligas from five to eight and for Schedule Tribes from the present three to twelve”, he said.
Stating that Ahinda would no longer be confined to only a few communities such as minorities, backwards and dalits, the veteran leader said that the organisation would also fight for the justice of other upper castes also.
“In that regard, the organisation would soon hold conventions in North Karnataka districts of Vijayapura, Kalaburagi, Belgavi and Hubballi, he said.
To a question, he said that he did not expect any drastic change in population of different castes after the government completing the process of caste census in the State.
Vice president of Ahinda, G. B. Raju and organising secretary, Chidananda Chalavadi was present.
North Karnataka region
K. Mukadappa, State President of Ahinda has supported Congress MLA, A.S. Patil Nadahalli who has launched agitation demanding justice to North Karnataka region.
Stating that in many ways, the NK region had been deprived of its share in development, Mr. Mukadappa said that he supports Mr. Nadahalli on his agitation.
He demanded the Government to appoint at least seven persons of the NK region as members of Karnataka Public Service Commission.
