A massive demonstration and stone-pelting was reported outside the home of BJP veteran and former Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa in Karnataka’s Shimoga district this afternoon.

Dramatic visuals showed police cracking down on hundreds of protesters from the Banjara community.

The community is protesting against the Karnataka government’s recent decision on reservation for Scheduled Castes.

The Basavaraj Bommai-led BJP government has recommended to the centre a new breakup of the reservation for Scheduled Castes in education and jobs. They have recommended that out of the 17 per cent reservation for the SC community, 6 per cent be earmarked for Scheduled Castes (left), 5.5 per cent for Scheduled Castes (right), 4.5 per cent for “touchables” and one per cent to others. 

The decision was taken on the basis of a report by the AJ Sadashiva Commission which was constituted by the Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) in 2005 to look into the need for sub-classifying Scheduled Caste reservations in the state. 

Leaders of the Banjara community have alleged that they would lose out due to the state government’s decision on reservation and demanded that the state government immediately withdraw the recommendation to the centre.