BANGALORE: Former Prime Minister and President of the Janata Dal

(Secular) H.D. Deve Gowda's demand to split the quota for backward classes to help the communities which have not benefited from the reservation system has evoked mixed reactions. Those opposing the changes are apparently from the groups which have got more than their fair share of benefits.

Mr. Deve Gowda told The Hindu here on Tuesday he will not change his stand, and he will wage a relentless battle in the interest of backward classes which have been denied their share of quotas. According to him, a few dominant communities, including the Kurubas and the Idigas, have cornered the benefit of the reservation system. He said it is for the Dharam Singh Government to take action immediately or face the consequences. The Government should issue an order bringing about changes or the controversy will be a made a poll issue, he warned.

Given the uncertainty over the future of the coalition government, Mr. Deve Gowda has virtually gifted his party an issue. By all accounts, the Kurubas and the Idigas have obtained the maximum benefit from the reservation system at the cost of Nayakas, Agasas, Vishwakarmas and Gollas.

However, Mr. Deve Gowda has not demanded that the Kurubas and the Idigas be removed from the list of communities eligible for reservation. According to him, such communities should have a quota of only four per cent in Category 2 (A), and the reservation for the other caste groups should be based on their population and social and educational condition.

`Not against Kurubas'

Mr. Deve Gowda made it clear that he is not attempting to strike at the Kurubas (former Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's community) or the Idigas (former Union Minister R.L. Jalappa's community).

Mr. Siddaramaiah and Mr. Jalappa, who have a common enemy in Mr. Deve Gowda, have effectively combined to promote AHIND, a federation of backward classes, minorities and Dalits, seeking a better bargain for the backward classes.

By making the demand for dividing the quota for backward classes in Category 2 (A), Mr. Deve Gowda has taken the wind out of their sails and dealt a blow to the AHIND movement.

It was the Government of Mr. Deve Gowda which introduced reservation for backward classes in 1994, although the initiative had been made by the Veerappa Moily government.

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