Dalit left groups to start protest from August 11 seeking immediate implementation of Nagamohan Das panel report on internal quota

Amid pressure on the Karnataka government to hand over the H.N. Nagamohan Das Commission report on internal reservation to a Cabinet sub-committee to study it, several Dalit organisations, under the banner of Federation for Social Justice for Scheduled Castes, will start their indefinite protest from Monday morning, seeking immediate implementation of the report.

The government has postponed a decision on the committee report to the next Cabinet, asking Ministers to study the report before initiating the discussion.

Dalit right not happy

While the Dalit right (Holeyas) is understood to be unhappy with the report’s findings, and have pointed out at their reduced population and flaws in distribution of internal reservation, the Dalit left (Madigas) and other groups have welcomed the report and have sought immediate implementation.

The commission has sliced the 17% reservation matrix with 6% given to the Dalit left and 5% to the Dalit right, besides 4% to touchable groups, As much as 1% each has been given to microscopic communities and those who have identified themselves as AD, AK, and AA.

Sources in the Dalit left groups said that the report should not have the same fate as the A.J. Sadashiva Commission report submitted earlier but not implemented. If there are flaws, it could be rectified and implemented, sources said.

“Every community will work to protect its interest and it was expected also. But government should not yield to such pressure to stall the implementation.”

CM should take a stand

Basavaraj Kowthal, convener of Federation for Social Justice for Scheduled Castes, said that they will not withdraw their protest unless the government issues an order to this effect.

“Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has to take a stand. If he goes on seeking consent from all caste groups, there will be no end to it. The report prepared after a scientific survey and robust data collection should not be wasted. Our demand for internal reservation has been three decades old and the Supreme Court has cleared it. The survey has been done according to the Supreme Court order. Not only have the caste numbers been considered, but also the extent of backwardness. We will not abandon the protest site until the government takes the report to its logical end,” he said.