Bandh call has little effect in Karnataka

Pro-Kannada outfits on Thursday gave the BS Yediyurappa-led BJP government a new headache demanding implementation of the three-decade-old Sarojini Mahishi report that had suggested 100 percent reservation for Kannadigas across all public sector units (PSUs) run by the state government.

The pro-Kannada outfits united under one umbrella called Karnataka Sangathanegala Okkoota today held a bandh across the state and added a new twist to the Mahishi report demanding job reservations even in the private sector. The bandh was by and large peaceful except for stray incidents of stone pelting on buses in Dakshina Kannada district. Normal life was disrupted only partially.

The Mahishi Committee, headed by former Union minister Sarojini Mahishi, was constituted in 1984 to recommend job opportunities for Kannadigas in Karnataka. It submitted the report two years later.

But the outfits now want all jobs be reserved for Kannadigas, except senior/skilled positions if necessary. The outfits stopped short of demanding reservations in IT-BT sectors.

Just a few days ago, Labour Minister S Suresh Kumar had indicated that a bill to provide 75% reservation to Kannadigas in industries, MSMEs, joint ventures and public-private partnerships is ready for Cabinet approval. But in the new draft too the government has conspicuously kept the IT-BT sector out of the reservation umbrella as top industry honchos had told the government earlier that their sectors survive on skills, not reservation.