"Decision to provide internal reservation was part of our manifesto": Priyank Kharge
Oct 28, 2024
Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], October 28 : Karnataka Rural Development Minister Priyank Kharge stated on Monday that the cabinet's decision to implement internal reservations for Scheduled Castes was a commitment made in their manifesto before the assembly elections.
He noted that the previous government had failed to introduce internal reservations in employment based on any substantial data.
Kharge emphasised that the Supreme Court mandates that internal reservations must be established using empirical data. He added that the Karnataka government has appointed a single-judge commission to facilitate the implementation of internal reservations.
"Internal reservation was part of our manifesto, yet the previous government did not base their approach on any data. The Supreme Court order clearly states that internal reservations must rely on empirical evidence. We have set up a single-judge commission to navigate this complex issue and establish a method to gather the required data," Kharge explained.
Earlier, Minister for Public Works Development (PWD) HC Mahadevappa held a press conference to announce that the cabinet had approved the establishment of 33 special police stations and the recruitment of 450 personnel. These specialised stations will focus on expeditiously handling caste-related atrocity cases.
"The Social Welfare Department will oversee the establishment of these police stations, prioritising the prevention of atrocities against Scheduled Castes. This is a pioneering initiative in the country. Complaints related to such cases will initially be lodged at local police stations and then transferred to the specialised units to ensure immediate filing of FIRs," the minister said.
The cabinet also resolved to designate 33 units of the Civil Rights Enforcement Directorate under the Social Welfare Department as special police stations. Additionally, it approved the recruitment of 450 personnel required to operate these stations effectively.
