AICC president and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, on Tuesday voiced strong opposition to the inclusion of the Beda Jangama community under the Scheduled Castes (SC) category, warning that it could undermine the rights and representation of historically oppressed SC communities
Addressing a public meeting in Hosapete as part of the Congress government’s two-year anniversary celebrations in Karnataka, Kharge questioned the move, pointing to the sudden spike in the community’s population figures.
“The process of internal reservation within the SC category has begun — I am not against it. Let it go ahead. But the move to include the Beda Jangama community in the SC list raises serious concerns,” Kharge said, making the remarks in the presence of Rahul Gandhi. “We are not opposed to providing benefits to economically weaker sections among the Lingayat community. Let us support them. But including Beda Jangama community in the scheduled Caste list will directly affect the rights of SCs,” he said.