Labour Minister Santosh Lad calls for 75% reservation in Karnataka

Minister for Labour Santosh Lad has stressed the need for increasing the reservation in education and employment to 75% in Karnataka, considering the outcome of the ongoing Social and Educational Survey.

Speaking at the former Chief Minister S. Bangarappa’s birth anniversary programme organised by Bangarappa Foundation at Sorab on Sunday, Mr. Lad said former Chief Ministers Devraj Urs, S. Bangarappa, and current Chief Minister Siddaramaiah have worked towards the upliftment of the backward classes. During their tenure, they made decisions that helped the backward classes for generations.

Similarly, through this forum, he said, he would appeal to the Chief Minister to enhance the reservation in education and employment to 75%. The neighbouring Tamil Nadu government had increased reservations up to 69%. “The Supreme Court has favoured reservation based on the empirical data. Karnataka is the only State to have comprehensive data. The Social and Educational Survey is about to conclude in the State soon. We request the CM to increase reservations to all categories considering the outcome of the survey and ensure equal share to all,” he said.

Minister for Food and Civil Supplies K.H. Muniyappa recalled his days with Bangarappa. He said he had personally met then Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao with a delegation of 23 legislators to persuade him not to remove Bangarappa from the CM’s post. He also said he could occupy prime positions in politics because of the support and blessings of Bangarappa.

Minister for School Education Madhu Bangarappa, who is also head of the foundation; Belur Gopal Krishna, MLA for Sagar; Bheemanna Naik, MLA for Sirsi, and others were present at the programme. A day-long event was organized by the foundation to mark 93rd birth anniversary of Bangarappa.