The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : AIPJD rally backs call for quota in private sector

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Apr 26, 2006

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

AIPJD rally backs call for quota in private sector

Special Correspondent

Party threatens to launch a struggle in support of the demand

RALLYING FARMERS: The former Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and the former Prime Minister V.P. Singh waving to the crowd at the `Mannina Mahajanara Samavesha' organised by the All-India Progressive Janata Dal in Bangalore on Tuesday. — Ph oto: V. Sreenivasa Murthy

Bangalore: The Janata Dal (Secular) and the Bharatiya Janata Party should end their "unholy alliance," quit office and hold Assembly elections in the State, the All-India Progressive Janata Dal (AIPJD) demanded at its rally here on Tuesday.

The rally, which was attended by the former Prime Minister V.P. Singh, also demanded that the Centre enforce reservation in the private sector and in its institutions of higher learning. If the Centre failed to do so, the AIPJD would launch a struggle in support of the demand.

The rally, "Mannina Mahajanara Samavesha," organised by the former Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was meant to be a backward class challenge to Janata Dal (Secular) national president H.D. Deve Gowda and his son, Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy.

At the rally, the first one organised by the AIPJD after the party was rejuvenated recently, most of the speakers referred to the need for reservation in the private sector. The occasion also provided a platform for Mr. Siddaramaiah and AIPJD national president C.M. Ibrahim, who have been suspended from the JD(S), to launch a no-holds-barred attack on Mr. Deve Gowda.

Most of the speakers criticised Mr. Deve Gowda's demand for a reclassification of the State's list of backward classes, targeting the Kuruba and Idiga communities.

Support from V.P. Singh

The proposal of the AIPJD to launch a movement for reservation in the private sector and institutions of higher education was supported by the former Prime Minister V.P. Singh and the former Union Agriculture Minister Ajit Singh. They said it was illogical to state that if reservations were introduced in higher educational institutions, merit would suffer. On the contrary, social justice would ensure economic equality.

Mr. Singh said he had to step down as Prime Minister because he insisted on the implementation of the Mandal Commission report on reservation for other backward classes. Its implementation was an achievement despite the stiff resistance put up by sections of the people in the northern States, he said.

Mr. Ibrahim said the large gathering at the rally was proof that Mr. Siddaramaiah had a good support base. "It will also send a message to Mr. Deve Gowda that only the people can remove leaders like Mr. Siddaramaiah and myself. It is we who built the Janata Dal (S). The Congress should also learn the lesson that it should rally behind Mr. Siddaramaiah," he said.

Mr. Siddaramaiah said the violence that flared up in Bangalore after the death of Rajkumar was an indication of poor governance and lack of experience of those in the Government. The Chief Minister did not even visit the families of those who died in the police firing and violence, nor was any compensation paid.

Others who spoke included Raj Babbar and Maulana Mohammed Madani, MPs; the former Ministers H.C. Mahadevappa, K. Venkatesh, M. Raghupathy and R. Krishnappa; the litterateur U.R. Ananthamurthy, B.R. Patil, A.K. Subbaiah and P. Kodandaramaiah.

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