Date:01/07/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/07/01/stories/2007070154660400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Raju Kshatriya Sangha threatens to launch stir

Special Correspondent

— Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy

Rally: Members of the Karnataka Raju Kshatriya Sangha taking out a protest march in Bangalore on Saturday demanding internal reservation for Other Backward Classes.

Bangalore: Members of the Karnataka Raju Kshatriya Sangha on Saturday threatened to launch a Statewide agitation if there was any delay in introducing internal reservation for the Other Backward Classes.

Members of the sangha, who took out a protest march from Bannappa Park to the Mysore Bank Circle here, took exception to the opposition to internal reservation by some leaders. They warned such leaders that an agitation would be launched if they continued to oppose internal reservation.

Effigy burnt

The sangha activists burnt an effigy of Congress leader Siddaramaiah for opposing internal reservation. They alleged that Mr. Siddaramaiah was opposing it for political reasons as it was mooted by his political opponent, Janata Dal (S) national president H.D. Deve Gowda.

Pointing out that the Raju Kshatriya community was backward both in education and employment, they hoped that the proposed internal reservation would improve their socio-economic conditions.

They also urged Home Minister M.P. Prakash, who heads a Cabinet subcommittee formed to decide the method of implementing internal reservation, to submit a report to the Government on internal reservation at the earliest.

Sangha leaders said the community numbered about 25 lakh people in the State.