JDS releases manifesto, assures to bring back 4% reservation for Muslims

BENGALURU: Janata Dal (Secular) (JDS), in its manifesto released on Thursday assured Muslims of bringing back the 4 per cent quota for them, which the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had scrapped off recently.

After removal of the minority reservation, Muslims have been brought into the 10 per cent reservation pool of the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS). JDS in its manifesto stated to set-up a Court for speedy conduct of trials against those involved in the spread of communal hatred.

The manifesto released by JDS also assured to implement Justice Sadashiva Commission recommendations. The JDS accused the BJP government of causing confusion over reservation and ignoring the recommendations made by Sadashiva Commission.

The manifesto assured religious minorities (Muslims, Christians, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis and Sikhs) which form 20 per cent of the State’s population would get 5 per cent budgetary allocation for their uplift.

To farmers, the manifesto assured 24x7 quality power supply and installation of solar pumpsets and stated to initiate steps to take up construction of Mekedatu reservoir across River Cauvery in Ramnagar by getting rid of legal hurdles in the way.

The Mekedatu project would help the State get about 67 tmc of water to meet the drinking water needs of Bengaluru city and surrounding taluks. The manifesto also assured to initiate steps to get approval for the Mahadayi project in north Karnataka and allocate adequate funds for the project to get started.

The JDS also assured to initiate steps to save the Nandini brand of Karnataka Milk Federation against the ongoing onslaught of Anand Milk Union Limited (AMUL) products of Gujarat into Karnataka.

For transport employees, the JDS manifesto assured implementation of Pay Commission recommendations and also offered cashless treatment for the employees.