Siddaramaiah for quota on population basis

Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has batted for fixing reservation depending on the population of the respective communities rather than fixing a  figure blindly.

Addressing huge rally of the Madiga community here on Sunday, he said in order to extend the benefit of reservation to downtrodden communities, the existing cap on reservation should be enhanced to 70 per cent . The Union government would be requested to bring necessary changes in the law to meet the demand.

Despite having reservation, the majority of Dalits and Madigas in particular, have not benefited compared to other backward communities. The only solution was increasing the threshold limit set by the Supreme Court. As reservation is upto 69 per cent in Tamil Nadu, the state will explore legal options and press the Central government to take action to get the Apex court order relaxed, he said.

The chief minister also assured community members that in the next cabinet meeting, an appropriate decision would be taken to implement  recommendations of Justice A.J. Sadashiva panel. Social Welfare Minister H. Anjeneya has been asked bring this issue to the notice of the Cabinet. 

When those in the crowd insisted that Mr Siddaramaiah make a concrete announcement in this regard, the latter said, such decisions cannot be announced from the stage as there are procedures to follow. “But I assure you that an appropriate decision will be taken in the next cabinet meeting, have faith in us. The caste census report will be available in January. Considering both reports the government will make a suitable decision”, he promised. 

Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Jagadish Shettar said, the Bharatiya Janata Party would fully support the government's view and they were the ones who were advocating change in the reservation matrix according to community strength. 

He assured all support to implement the Sadashiva Panel recommendations. 

Former Union minister K.H. Muniyappa requested the chief minister to establish a separate corporation for the development of Madiga community.

Compensation for kin of accident victims
Six people who were on their way to attend the Madigara Mahasamavesha in Hubballi were killed on the spot after the vehicle in which they were travelling met with an accident near Kulgeri Cross in Bagalkot district.  When the organisers disclosed details of the accident, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced Rs 1 lakh  compensation to the families of the deceased.