Explained: The Banjara protests in Karnataka

The latest set of reservations announced by the BJP government in Karnataka has left many fuming. While the quota of Muslims was scrapped to woo the Vokkaligas and Lingayats, the saffron party has also ended up inadvertently annoying the Banjara community with its reservation for the sub-castes in the Scheduled Castes (SCs) category.

After pelting stones at BJP veteran Yediyurappa's residence on Monday, the Banjara community members have been staging protests in Shikaripura now. Other BJP leaders are also facing protests in many other places across the State over the issue.

The Banjara community is demanding withdrawal of the decision of revamping the reservation system as they feel that their share in the pie has gone down in the new system. The community, along with other communities such as Govi, Korma and Korchas, falls under the SC Touchables category.

The SCs were so far getting 15% reservations in Karnataka. The government raised it to 17% and divided it internally among the sub-categories. The new internal quota gives 6% to SC Left, 5.5% to SC Right and 4.5% to SC Touchables, leaving 1% for other SC communities.

Earlier, the Banjara community got a larger share, up to 10%. However, with the internal division, it has been fixed at 4.5%. Now, this has become the bone of contention with the Banjara leaders arguing that their community's share in the reservation system has been reduced in the process.

Describing it as "much less and unscientific", the community members are accusing the BJP government of implementing the Sadashiva Committee report without even discussing it in any public forum. They feel that they have been unfairly treated by the government.

However, Chief Minister Basavaraja Bommai clarified that the government implemented the Cabinet Sub-Committee recommendations and not that of the Sadashiva Committee. He has assured the aggrieved Banjaras to look into the matter soon.