Madigas Face Lathis, Tear Gas Shells for Trying to Enter Suvarna Soudha
From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Belgaum, Dec 11: Lathi charge and bursting of tear gas shells by the police greeted the members of the Madiga community when they tried to storm into the Suvarna Soudha, which is hosting the winter session of the Karnataka legislature here, demanding immediate acceptance of the Sadashiva Commission report on granting special quota for different Scheduled Caste Communities.
The Madiga Meesalathi Horata Samiti or the Madiga Reservation Struggle Committee has been spearheading an agitation urging the State Government to implement the Sadashiva Commission report on special quota for different Scheduled Caste communities and forward it to the Union government for approval.
Deputy Chief Minister R Ashok, who also holds the Home portfolio, told the Legislative Assembly that one group of Madiga community members threatened to enter the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha here by breaching the security at the entrance.
Ashok said he was scheduled to meet Samiti members at a ground here to accept a memorandum.
When police did not allow members to enter the Suvarna Soudha secretariat complex, they pelted stones towards police resulting in a policeman suffering injuries.
The situation was brought under control and normalcy was restored after the police resorted to lathi charge and even burst tear gas shells.
Security has been stepped up to prevent untoward incidents by the Samithi members in other parts of the State, the Deputy Chief Minister said.
When the Opposition raised the issue and demanded the State Government to table the Sadashiva Commission report in the House, Ashok said he would discuss the issue with Chief Minister and take an appropriate decision.
Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah and JD(S) floor leader H D Revanna blamed the Government for the lathi-charge on innocent members of the Madiga community and demanded steps to maintain law and order.
President of the State unit of the Samiti H Hanumanthappa,, who addressed the press in Bangalore a few days ago, had strongly criticised the “inordinate delay” on the part of the BJP government in taking a decision on the matter and extending the benefits of special quota as recommended by the commission.