Hike in SC/ST Quota: Congress slams BJP as Centre denies any proposal from Karnataka

The ruling BJP in poll-bound Karnataka faced uncomfortable questions from the Congress on Tuesday after it emerged that the Centre has denied receiving any proposal from the state to increase the quota for SC/STs in recruitment to government jobs and admissions to educational institutions.

AICC general secretary RS Surjewala questioned the BJP’s claims of pursuing the subject with the Centre to get the 50% cap on the overall quota relaxed. The BJP was not serious about the interests of the SC/STs and OBCs, and had only been making claims, he said in a chat with the Times Group journalists.

Junior Minister in the Social Justice and Empowerment department A Narayanaswamy has, in a recent reply in the Lok Sabha to JDS member Prajwal Revanna, denied receipt of any proposal from Karnataka seeking removal of the 50% cap in reservation for SCs, STs and OBCs.


The minister also denied that the government has any plans to increase the quota for SCs from 15% to 17% and for STs from 3% to 7%. "There is no such proposal pending with this department," Narayanaswamy said in a written reply. The minister represents Chitradurga in the Lok Sabha.

The Congress is expected to turn this into an election issue to corner the BJP.

The recent amendments to the reservation law in Karnataka increases the quotas for SCs to 17%, STs to 7% and OBCs and minority communities to 32%, taking the overall reservation to 56%, beyond the cap fixed by the apex court in the Indra Sawhney case.

The BJP has been seeking to make a big splash as ST/ST communities are estimated to make up about a quarter of the state’s population, and their votes are crucial for the party in the upcoming elections.

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai had, last month, said the process of getting the latest amendments in the ninth schedule of the Constitution has already begun. Such a move will also serve as a reminder to the SC/ST communities about the BJP meeting their long-pending demand and hoping for their votes in return, he had said.