Karnataka: Don’t fall for BJP’s propaganda on SC-ST reservation, says Satish Jarkiholi

BELAGAVI: KPCC working president Satish Jarkiholi urged the scheduled caste and scheduled tribe communities not to fall into the pray to the false propaganda of BJP over increasing reservation quota.
Addressing reporters at Gokak on Wednesday, the Congress MLA from Yamakanmaradi said what BJP has done was just 25% of the total process, by recommending the proposal to the Centre about increasing SC quota from 15% to 17% and ST quota from 3% to 7%. The 75% process for getting approval is still pending, he added.
Jarkiholi said the government must first table the proposal in the winter assembly session and get approval. “Later, it must be sent to the Centre. After the centre’s approval, the proposal is supposed to be signed by the President. Only then will the SC-ST communities get the benefit. But BJP workers are already distributing sweets and misleading the people,” he said.
Prasannanand Swamiji of Valmiki Peetha had protested for 241 days seeking an increase in reservation. When the protestors threatened to boycott Valmiki Jayanti celebrations, the government hurriedly called a cabinet meeting. “But it's only the first step. We will thank the government only after the signature of the governor,” Jarkiholi said.
According to Satish Jarkiholi, neighbouring Telangana government sent a similar proposal to the Centre in 2017 but the Centre is yet to approve it. “In Karnataka, this is just an election gimmick. SC - STs should not fall into the pray to such gimmicks,” he urged.