<p>Leaders from the dominant Vokkaliga community have decided to give the state government time till January 22 to take a stand on their demand to enhance reservation from 4% to 12%.</p>.<p>This was decided at a well-attended meeting here where the Vokkaligara Sangha handed out a resolution to Revenue Minister R Ashoka who was present.</p>.<p>On January 23, the community leaders will stage a massive protest at Palace Grounds here to mount pressure on the government.</p>.<p>At present, some 20 sub-sects of Vokkaligas come under OBC Category 3A with a 4% reservation in Karnataka. Apparently, there are 115 Vokkaliga sub-sects and not all of them have been brought under the OBC tag. The community claims to account for 16% of state’s population.</p>.<p>Sunday’s meeting had pontiffs of all Vokkaliga mutts, including Nirmalanandanatha Swami of Adichunchanagiri Mutt, Nanjavadhoota Swami of Spatikapuri Mutt, and Chandrashekharanatha Swami of Vishva Vokkaliga Mahasmsthana Mutt.</p>.<p>Vokkaliga politicians in attendance included former CM D V Sadananda Gowda, ministers R Ashoka, K Sudhakar and Karnataka Congress president D K Shivakumar.</p>.<p>Vokkaligara Sangha president C N Balakrishna said government should discuss their quota demand in the Cabinet.</p>.<p>“Today’s meeting should be a warning for the government. We will take the stir forward under the leadership of our seer,” he said.</p>.<p>On January 23, the Vokkaliga body wants to mobilise 25 lakh people at Palace Grounds for a show of strength.</p>.<p>The ruling BJP, which is looking to woo the Vokkaligas, could find their reservation demand a bitter pill to swallow.</p>.<p>The BJP government has already hiked reservation for SCs from 15% to 17% and for STs from 3% to 7%. This has taken the reservation tally to 56%, above the 50% quota fixed by the Supreme Court.</p>.<p>“We are demanding for our right on the basis of our community’s population,” Shivakumar said. “We’re asking nothing for our personal benefits.”</p>.<p>Sadananda Gowda said that the community should mount pressure on the Union government under former prime minister H D Deve Gowda’s leadership. “We are not begging, it’s our right,” he insisted.</p>.<p>Meanwhile, Ashoka, the BJP’s Vokkaliga face, said he would bring it to the notice of the government. “I will discuss with the CM. We will conduct a study and discuss with experts, too,” he added.</p>
<p>Leaders from the dominant Vokkaliga community have decided to give the state government time till January 22 to take a stand on their demand to enhance reservation from 4% to 12%.</p>.<p>This was decided at a well-attended meeting here where the Vokkaligara Sangha handed out a resolution to Revenue Minister R Ashoka who was present.</p>.<p>On January 23, the community leaders will stage a massive protest at Palace Grounds here to mount pressure on the government.</p>.<p>At present, some 20 sub-sects of Vokkaligas come under OBC Category 3A with a 4% reservation in Karnataka. Apparently, there are 115 Vokkaliga sub-sects and not all of them have been brought under the OBC tag. The community claims to account for 16% of state’s population.</p>.<p>Sunday’s meeting had pontiffs of all Vokkaliga mutts, including Nirmalanandanatha Swami of Adichunchanagiri Mutt, Nanjavadhoota Swami of Spatikapuri Mutt, and Chandrashekharanatha Swami of Vishva Vokkaliga Mahasmsthana Mutt.</p>.<p>Vokkaliga politicians in attendance included former CM D V Sadananda Gowda, ministers R Ashoka, K Sudhakar and Karnataka Congress president D K Shivakumar.</p>.<p>Vokkaligara Sangha president C N Balakrishna said government should discuss their quota demand in the Cabinet.</p>.<p>“Today’s meeting should be a warning for the government. We will take the stir forward under the leadership of our seer,” he said.</p>.<p>On January 23, the Vokkaliga body wants to mobilise 25 lakh people at Palace Grounds for a show of strength.</p>.<p>The ruling BJP, which is looking to woo the Vokkaligas, could find their reservation demand a bitter pill to swallow.</p>.<p>The BJP government has already hiked reservation for SCs from 15% to 17% and for STs from 3% to 7%. This has taken the reservation tally to 56%, above the 50% quota fixed by the Supreme Court.</p>.<p>“We are demanding for our right on the basis of our community’s population,” Shivakumar said. “We’re asking nothing for our personal benefits.”</p>.<p>Sadananda Gowda said that the community should mount pressure on the Union government under former prime minister H D Deve Gowda’s leadership. “We are not begging, it’s our right,” he insisted.</p>.<p>Meanwhile, Ashoka, the BJP’s Vokkaliga face, said he would bring it to the notice of the government. “I will discuss with the CM. We will conduct a study and discuss with experts, too,” he added.</p>