Gowda asks K'taka to implement internal quota

Mysore, Nov 7: Justifying his demand for internal reservation to the backward classes, former Prime Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) President H D Deve Gowda today urged the Karnataka Government to implement the same immediately.

Speaking at a function got up to pay tributes to late Minister and champion of BCs L G Havanur, organised by the Dalitha Hindullida Alpa Sankayatara Vedike here, he said internal reservation was a must for those deprived of the benefits in a reservation category.

His demand was within the limitations of Supreme Court restrictions of 50 per cent reservation. Of the 50 per cent, the SC/STs were eligable for 23 per cent and the remaining should go to BCs.

Stating that he had written a letter in this regard to Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa about four months ago, he said it was the duty of the coalition Government to implement it.

Mr Gowda announced that he would fight till justice was rendered to the particular class and said his party was committed to internal reservation.

He said the issue was brought before the Union Cabinet when he was the Prime Minister, but it could not take off due to objections from various parties.

Recalling his association with Mr Havanur when he was made BC Commission Chairman by the then Chief Minister Devaraj Urs, Mr Gowda said the Commission report holds good even today and the Mandal Commission report too was based on it. Though there were two more commissions, Venkataswamy and Channappa Reddy Commissions, the Havanur Commission report on BCs was like an encyclopaedia.

Stating that he had been fighting for reservation and would continue to do so till his death, he said his demand had nothing to do with the coming Chamundeswari byelection in the district.

UNI