Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Apr 16: Union minister for heavy industries and steel H D Kumaraswamy on Wednesday launched a sharp attack against chief minister Siddaramaiah, accusing him of favouring his own Kuruba community at the cost of other backward castes, especially Vokkaligas and Lingayats.

In a strongly worded statement, Kumaraswamy questioned the distribution of reservation benefits under Category 2A, which has a 15% quota earmarked for the most backward classes.

“There are 101 communities under 2A. Let the chief minister explain which community has taken the biggest share of benefits,” he demanded, directly accusing Siddaramaiah of enabling disproportionate advantage to his own community.

Kumaraswamy alleged that official records from the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) in Malleswaram clearly show that members of the Kuruba community dominate Group A, B, C and D government jobs, and professional education admissions — including medicine, dentistry, engineering, pharmacy and agriculture — under the 2A quota.

“The CET office at 18th Cross has all the data. I urge the public to check for themselves. How many children from each of the 101 communities have received seats? Who has walked away with the lion’s share?” he questioned.

He urged the other 100 communities within the 2A group to speak up. “You know who is cornering your rightful share. Yet, why are you silent? Will blaming Lingayats and Vokkaligas help your children get justice?” he asked.

Kumaraswamy accused the chief minister of playing divisive politics under the guise of backward class welfare.

“Who has eaten the largest share of the 2A pie? Speak the truth, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. I am waiting for your reply,” he said, ending his statement with “Satyameva Jayate — Let truth triumph.”