BJP betrayed people of K’taka over quota: Cong

Mysuru: A day after the state government filed an affidavit before the Supreme Court that it would keep on hold its decision to scrap four per cent reservation for Muslims and would continue the existing reservation till further orders, the Congress on Wednesday grabbed the opportunity to expose the chinks in the BJP’s armour. Accusing the BJP of fraud in extending reservation, it sought an apology from PM Narendra Modi to Lingayats, Vokkaligas, SC and STs.
This came a day after Union home minister Amit Shah questioned the Congress as to whose share of the quota they would reduce to bring reservation back to Muslims during a roadshow in Gundlupet in Chamarajanagar district.
AICC Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala told reporters in Mysuru that the BJP has betrayed the people of Karnataka. “The Bommai government is doing ‘vote bank politics’ by committing fraud of reservation upon Lingayats, Vokkaligas, SC, STs and OBCs,” he said.
“The BJP should explain its failure in defending its decision to scrap reservation for Muslims before the Supreme Court, why the government was not increasing the 50% cap on reservation and why it failed to include increased reservation quota for SC and STs in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution,” he said.
KPCC chief DK Shivakumar called it a hit wicket by the BJP. “BJP will not cross the 40-seat mark in the elections. I will write this with my blood and give it,” He said in a direct attack on former CM BS Yediyurappa who had said former CM Jagadish Shettar, who jumped ship, would not win the election which he can give it in writing with his blood.