Bengaluru, Feb 23 (NationPress) A delegation from the BJP has presented a memorandum to Karnataka Governor Thawarchand Gehlot, accusing the Congress-led state government of mismanaging the matter of internal reservations for Scheduled Castes, thereby generating confusion instead of fostering social justice.

The group comprised notable figures such as former Deputy Chief Minister and MP Govind Karjol, former Union Minister A. Narayanaswamy, MLA Duryodhan Aihole, Basavaraj Mattimadu, and retired IAS officer Lakshminarayan.

In their memorandum to the Governor, the delegation emphasized that it has been 18 months since the Supreme Court's ruling on internal reservations for Scheduled Castes was delivered on August 1, 2024. They highlighted that states like Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Haryana executed the ruling within six months, while Karnataka has still not taken action.

The memorandum pointed out that there was no request from the Madiga community to form the Justice Nagamohan Das Commission, as prior reports, including those from the Justice Sadashiva Commission and the Madhuswamy Committee, had already provided sufficient data. Nevertheless, the state government allegedly initiated the Nagamohan Das Commission, which operated for six months at a cost of approximately Rs 110 crore.

The recommendations of the commission included allocating 1 percent reservation to 59 small nomadic tribes under Category 1, 6 percent to Madiga-related sub-castes in Category 2, 5 percent to Holeya-related sub-castes in Category 3, 4 percent to Bhovi, Banjara, Koracha, and Korama sub-castes in Category 4, and 1 percent to communities that chose not to identify with their original caste.

However, the delegation questioned the government's decision to discard this formula in favor of a revised 6:6:5 model, which they claimed was influenced by political pressure. They noted that neither the Chief Minister nor the Social Welfare Minister provided clarity on the reasoning behind the new structure.

While a Bill was introduced and passed in the Assembly, the memorandum asserted that it was presented around 7 p.m. and rushed through without thorough discussion, relying solely on numerical superiority.

The signatories accused the government of failing to hold an all-party meeting or consult with community leaders, social organizations, legal experts, or scholars prior to implementing what they termed a historic policy decision.

They argued that previous panels had continually recommended a 1 percent quota for smaller nomadic sub-castes within the Scheduled Castes and claimed that the current government deviated from the court's directives, attracting criticism from various quarters.

The memorandum also indicated that issues concerning certain sub-castes remain unresolved, and internal reservations have not been extended to promotions or the allocation of Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan funds. Additionally, the delegation stated that backlog roster points have not been established and that recruitment for state government positions has slowed, resulting in approximately 2.85 lakh vacancies.

Moreover, the delegation referenced comments allegedly made by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah during a meeting with nomadic tribes, where he purportedly described the formula as politically motivated and suggested that aggrieved groups pursue judicial remedies.

According to the memorandum, the matter has now escalated to the courts, raising concerns about the government's readiness to justify its position. The delegation further alleged that the reservation debate is being used as a diversion from broader governance issues.

The Governor has reportedly requested clarification from the state government and has received a response. The delegation expressed optimism that he would make a decision that serves the interests of all Scheduled Caste sub-castes and upholds the principle of social justice.