4 hours ago
Madigas demand immediate implementation of internal quota within Scheduled Castes
Madiga Jati-Upajati Sanghataneegala Okkuta (Dalit Left category) staged a protest in Kalaburagi on Monday demanding the immediate implementation of the internal reservation within Scheduled Castes as per the recommendations of Nagamohan Das Commission report.
Led by okkuta convener for Kalyana Karnataka region Raju Wadekar and district president Parameshwar Khanapur, the protestors gathered at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Chowk and took out a march beating the thamate (traditional leather drum) and staged a protest in front of the Deputy Commissioner's office.
The agitators also offered milk to the poster of Nagamohan Das and urged the State government to take steps for the implementation of internal reservation for Scheduled Castes without further delay.
'Our community (Madiga) has been fighting for internal reservation for the last 30 years. Other States such as Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab and Telangana have implemented internal reservation among Scheduled Castes but the Congress, which promised implementing internal reservation in its manifesto for the 2023 Assembly elections, is dilly-dallying on granting the sub-quota,' Mr. Wadekar said.
They reiterated that the Sadashiva Commission had earlier recommended 6% reservation to Dalit Left category. Even the Madhuswamy Cabinet Sub-Committee also proposed 6% quota.
Though the Supreme Court delivered a verdict on August 1, 2024 authorizing the respective State governments to provide internal reservation after reclassifying sub-castes through a survey, the Siddaramaiah-led government in January 2025 formed the Nagamohan Das Commission to study internal reservation among Scheduled Castes, they said.
And, now, even the Nagamohan Das report recommends 6% for Dalit Left category, the agitators said and accused the Siddaramaiah-led State government of doing injustice to Dalit Left communities with inordinate delay in its implementation.
They urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to implement internal reservation as per the recommendations of the Nagamohan Das Commission on Tuesday, without bowing down to any pressure.
They also warned the authorities of intensifying their agitation if the State government fails to implement the report.
