In a scathing attack on Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah, his predecessor Basavaraj Bommai has called him a “bogus AHINDA leader” who has been playing with caste and class in Karnataka for votes.
“The Congress is deceiving the Dalits in Karnataka; they have been doing so right since 2013. Siddaramaiah is a bogus AHINDA leader. In order to camouflage the Congress’s lack of development, Siddaramaiah brings in caste or class politics,” said Bommai in an exclusive interview with News18.
Bommai was speaking about the recent decision by Siddaramaiah’s cabinet on providing internal reservation among the Scheduled Castes (SCs) in the state, by recommending an amendment of Article 341(3) of the Constitution. This amendment seeks to provide powers to the state governments to give internal reservation among the SCs and STs, which is currently vested with Parliament.
In the run-up to the 2023 assembly polls in Karnataka, the Congress had announced in its election manifesto that it would table the Justice AJ Sadashiva Commission report and move for its immediate implementation in the first cabinet meeting.
Bommai alleged that Siddaramaiah did not have the welfare of AHINDA people (Minorities, Backward Classes, and Dalits) in mind and made “empty promises” to give them justice.
“Congress’s foul play is caught,” Bommai said, insisting that this time Dalits will not be fooled, and they will teach Siddaramaiah a lesson in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.
The Justice Sadashiva Commission was set up in 2005 by the Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) government to examine the necessity and methods of sub-classifying Scheduled Caste reservations in Karnataka.
“In 2004, the Congress said let the Justice Sadashiva Commission report come in. But in 2013-18, they were in power. They did not even open it and see it,” said Bommai. “In 2023, they promised that they would implement the report within 24 hours of coming to power. They have not done it. Are they not making people fools?”
The senior BJP leader also said that the stand by the Congress in terms of internal reservation is to roll back the reservation percentages. He said the party aims to reduce the current 17 per cent reservation to 15 per cent.
“We have already implemented the commission report; rather we went one step ahead. We have given 6 per cent to the SC Left and 5.5 per cent to the SC Right, then 4.5 to the backward classes, and 1 per cent to the tribes. They want to roll it back to 15 per cent. Is that not injustice?” he further questioned.
Emphasising the BJP’s commitment to social justice, Bommai said though the matter is pending in the Supreme Court, his government went ahead and took a decision.
“I took the courageous decision and implemented it…The fact of the matter is there is a case pending in the SC; a hearing is expected soon. These people (Congress) who call themselves champions of social justice believe only in lip sympathy…The Congress does not want to implement it because it has been done by the BJP,” he pointed out.
Bommai accused Siddaramaiah of indulging in dual and election-oriented tactics just months before the Lok Sabha elections.
“If they really want and have the intention to implement it, why not do so from tomorrow itself,” he added.
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