Gadag
Members of the Scheduled Caste community staged a dramatic protest in Shirahatti, shaving their heads and demonstrating half-naked against the internal reservation classification. The rally, which began at Fakireshwar Mutt, culminated at the Tahsildar’s office, where a petition was submitted to Tahsildar Raghavendra Rao.
MLA Dr. Chandru Lamani condemned the government’s draft notification based on the cabinet’s decision and the Nagamohandas report, calling it a “death knell” for Lambani, Korama, Koracha, and Bhovi communities. He criticized the allocation of only 6 percent reservation to 63 castes, calling the classification unscientific and unjust. Lamani argued that Colombo communities, with their large population, have been deprived of social, educational, political, and economic opportunities, demanding 7 percent reservation for their development.
He further alleged that during the Scheduled Caste survey, Lambani migrants to neighboring states were excluded, and expressed anger at errors where Adi Andhra, Adi Dravida, and Adi Karnataka were incorrectly mentioned.
Community leaders, including Sardar Sewalal Maharaj of Chitradurga Banjara Gurupeeth, Shivprakash Maharaj of Kottaru Banjara Gurupeeth, former MLA Ramanna Lamani, Deepaka Lamani, and others addressed the gathering. Leaders such as Janu Lamani, Devappa Lamani, Gurappa Lamani, Eranna Chavan, Shivanna Pundaleeka, Mahesh Lamani, Thavareppa Lamani, Santhosh Lamani, Kashappa Lamani, Ramesh Lamani, and Kalappa Lamani also participated, voicing solidarity against the reservation policy.
