K'taka: Siddhu for reconstitution of BC Commission

Mysore, Oct 25: Former Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and Congress leader Siddaramaiah today demanded the reconstitution of the Backward Classes Commission in the State to provide internal reservation to various communities.

Addressing media persons here, he said that though the JD(S)-BJP coalition Government had been talking much about internal reservation to the needy classes, it had not shown enough interest in reconstituting the Backward Classes Commission, for which he had earmarked Rs 23 crore in the 2004-2005 budget.

He asked that if Janata Dal (Secular) supremo and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda was for internal reservation as he had announced often, why could he not bring pressure on the Government to implement the reservation immediately.

Mr Siddaramaiah urged the Government to take up a survey of the socio-economic status of people, irrespective of caste, in the State. It was part of the social obligation of the Government to provide educational and job reservation to the deprived classes of the society.

Referring to a recent Superme Court ruling, excluding the 'creamy layer' among the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes from the purview of reservation in public employment and promotions, he urged the Union Government to go in for a review petition before the court on the issue. He would apprise Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and party President Sonia Gandhi in this regard during his visit to New Delhi, he added.

UNI