Siddaramaiah raises hijab, janivara issue only when his chair is under threat, says Karjol

BJP MP Govind Karjol on Sunday said that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is making an attempt to divert public attention by raising issues such as hijab, janivara and Shivadhara at a time when his “chair is under threat”.

Responding to questions from reporters in Kalaburagi, Mr. Karjol said that practices such as wearing hijab, janivara and Shivadhara are not new and they have existed as part of Indian culture for generations.

He said that school uniforms have been introduced to ensure equality among students and there is, therefore, no need for issuing orders regarding hijab or janivara.

“Whenever Siddaramaiah’s position has come under threat, he has resorted to such gimmicks. He is trying to mislead people. He ordered caste surveys twice but, the reports never came out. Such gimmicks have continued during his eight years in power,” Mr. Karjol said.

Later, speaking at the taluk-level birth anniversary celebrations of Babu Jagjivan Ram organised at Aakruti Kalyana Mantapa in Kamalapur, the BJP leader accused the State government of doing injustice to the Madiga community in the matter of internal reservation.

He said that both the Nagamohan Das Commission and the Sadashiva Commission have recommended 6% reservation for the Madiga community in the Scheduled Castes category in view of its larger population. But the Congress government has provided them with only 5.25%, he added.

“We are not against anyone. We are only demanding our rightful share. If it is not granted, we will organise a massive agitation,” he warned.

Mr. Karjol said that the Congress promised implementation of internal reservation in the very first Assembly session if voted to power in 2013 and again in 2023, but it has failed to fulfil the promise.

He also criticised the State government’s internal reservation order stating that it will apply only in departments where more than 14 posts exist thereby, limiting opportunities for Madiga youth.

“Large posts are available only in limited numbers. This will result in injustice to our children. Reservation will be confined to lower-level jobs such as pourakarmikas, police personnel and teachers,” he said.

Mr. Karjol said that B.R. Ambedkar originally envisioned reservation for only 10 years but after his demise, it was Babu Jagjivan Ram who worked for its continuation.

Recalling Jagjivan Ram’s contribution as Union Agriculture Minister, he said that the Green Revolution initiated under his leadership transformed India from a food-deficit nation into one capable of feeding a population of 145 crore people.

Seer Niragudi Hawa Mallinath Maharaj and several local BJP leaders and organisers were present at the programme.