Karnataka - Mysore   

Naika community wants ST status restored

— PHOTO: M.A. SRIRAM

Show of strength: Naika community members staging a rally in Mysore on Tuesday.

MYSORE: A large number of Naika community members from Mysore and Chamarajanagar districts participated in a rally here on Tuesday in protest against withdrawal of Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for the community.

They took out a procession from the Town Hall to the Deputy Commissioner’s office shouting slogans against the alleged injustice done to the community.

Accompanied by Janata Dal (Secular) MLC Chikkamadu, Congress MLA Beechanahalli Chikkanna and AHINDA leader Appanna, the Naika community members staged the protest under the banner of the Federation of Mysore-Chamarajanagar District Naika Sanghas.

To clear confusion over the ST status, the members, in a memorandum to Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, urged that the Government to bring pressure on the Union Government to ensure that the President passes an order including “Parivara” and “Talawara” in the list of communities under the ST category. While criticising the move to withdraw the ST certificates of elected representatives and government officers belonging to the Naika community, the protesters urged the Government to withdraw the order on doing away with the ST status for the community and continue to extend benefits as earlier.

In the memorandum, Mr. Chikkamadu and Mr. Chikkanna sought protection for government employees belonging to the community and demanded that benefits given to members of other communities coming under the ST category be extended to Naika community members as Naika and Parivara communities were one and the same.

The protesters demanded that an order be passed directing the district administration to issue ST certificates to Naika community members by considering any one of following documents as proof: school record, land record or self declaration letter.

Movement of vehicles at K.R. Circle and surrounding areas was thrown out of gear by the rally. Police had a tough time diverting traffic away from the circle, Town Hall, D. Devaraja Urs Road and other areas.

A person dressed up as Maharshi Valmiki sitting atop a van during the rally drew the attention of onlookers.

Later, community leaders addressed the protesters on the office premises. As the Deputy Commissioner was on leave, they submitted the memorandum to Regional Commissioner M.V. Jayanthi.

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