A long-standing demand for reservation for the Kuruba caste in Karnataka is gaining momentum after Jagadguru Sri Niranjananandapuri Mahaswamiji of the Kaginele Kanaka Gurupitha issued a strong message to the Central Government in Bagalkot.
At a gathering at Kalabhavan in Navanagar, Bagalkot, the seer told an assembly that the Kuruba community has been waiting for a decision on its demand for ST status for several years and called on the Centre to act immediately.
Strong Message to the Centre
Sri Niranjananandapuri Mahaswamiji said that the Kanaka Gurupitha would make a decision depending on the Centre’s response to the reservation demand.
His point being that if the Central Government grants ST reservation to the Kuruba community, the Gurupitha will take one course of action, but if the demand is not fulfilled, it will be compelled to adopt a different and more determined course.
The seer did not elaborate on what action would be taken, but his remarks have intensified discussion on the reservation and intensified pressure on the Union Government.
Event Honouring Meritorious Students
The statement was made during a felicitation programme to honour SSLC and PUC meritorious students.
The event was organized jointly by the Bagalkot District Unit of the Karnataka Pradesh Kurubara Sangha and the District Halumatha Employees' Association. Besides recognising academic achievers, the programme also enabled the community to articulate the long-pending social and political demands.
Long-Pending Reservation Demand
The Kuruba community has always claimed to be eligible for the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category, and it is very clear how they can qualify. There have been rallies, conventions, and meetings throughout the years, with the community calling upon the State and Central Government to take it up with the proposal.
Even though the Karnataka Government has supported the demand and forwarded recommendations, the final decision on inclusion in the Scheduled Tribe list lies with the Central Government and requires the constitutional process to be completed.
The issue is still politically significant in Karnataka, where the Kuruba community is an influential social group.
Growing Pressure
The Kaginele seer's recent statement will help to further strengthen the momentum, and community leaders will probably be stepping up their efforts in the months to come.
The Kuruba community has stated they will continue their peaceful struggle until a final decision is taken on the ST status issue.
Even if we talk about the issue at the national level in the future, the issue would continue to be one of the main issues in Karnataka, and community organisations will still be looking for clarification from the Union Government.
As of now, the Central Government has not issued any fresh official response on the latest remarks made by the Kaginele seer or the pending demand for ST reservation.
The demand for Scheduled Tribe status is still being considered through the constitutional and administrative processes, as well as community leaders are making the case for an early decision.
