BJP leader R Ashoka refuses vermillion on forehead; Cong calls it proof of BJP's religious hypocrisy
Bengaluru: Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader R Ashok's recent decision to refuse the application of vermillion (kumkum) on his forehead during a visit to Kalaburagi has sparked controversy and drawn criticism from rival political parties after a video of the incident went viral on social media.
Ashok visited the BJP office in Sulepet, Chincholi taluk, Kalaburagi district, on Sunday, where a senior member attempted to apply vermillion on his forehead. However, Ashok stopped the member and declined the gesture with a clear "No." The video clip capturing Ashok's refusal quickly circulated on social media platforms, garnering attention and criticism.
The Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly's refusal to wear vermillion has prompted accusations of religious hypocrisy against the BJP, particularly from the Karnataka unit of the Congress. Taking to their official social media account, the Congress shared the video clip, questioning whether Ashok harbored an aversion or allergy to vermillion. The party accused the BJP of engaging in religious theatrics while practicing hypocrisy.
ALSO READ: Section of JD(S) workers in Channapatna oppose Kumaraswamy's likely move to contest from Mandya
The Congress further claimed that saffron shawls and vermillion are tools utilized by the BJP to mislead the youth of the nation, suggesting that the BJP's leaders prefer makeup over traditional religious practices.
"Bommai wiped away with full force the vermillion applied while Ashok totally rejected it. Do your (BJP) leaders prefer make-up, instead of vermillion?" the party has mockingly asked BJP Karnataka unit.
,@RAshokaBJP ಅವರಿಗೆ
— Karnataka Congress (@INCKarnataka) March 25, 2024
ಕುಂಕುಮ ಎಂದರೆ ಅಲರ್ಜಿಯೇ, ಅಸಹ್ಯವೇ?
ಕುಂಕುಮ ಹಚ್ಚಲು ಬಂದರೆ ಹೌಹಾರಿ ನಿರಾಕರಿಸುವ ಅಶೋಕ್ ಅವರ ಮೂಲಕ ಬಿಜೆಪಿಯವರ ಬೂಟಾಟಿಕೆಯ ಹುಸಿ ಧಾರ್ಮಿಕತೆ ನಾಟಕ ಬಯಲಾಗಿದೆ.
ಕೇಸರಿ ಶಾಲು, ಕುಂಕುಮ ಮುಂತಾದವುಗಳು ಬಿಜೆಪಿಗರ ಯುವ ಸಮುದಾಯವನ್ನು ದಿಕ್ಕು ತಪ್ಪಿಸುವ ಟೂಲ್ ಕಿಟ್ ಹೊರತು ಬಿಜೆಪಿಗರ ಅಸಲಿ ಆಚರಣೆಯಲ್ಲ.… pic.twitter.com/5ar2CQEq5a
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Karnataka Cabinet ratifies decisions on internal reservation for SCs
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka Cabinet has ratified its earlier decisions on internal reservation for Scheduled Castes and approved key modifications to streamline recruitment, including withdrawal and reissue of notifications and adoption of a 400-point roster system.
Briefing reporters after the meeting, Karnataka Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil on Thursday said the Cabinet reaffirmed its commitment to implementing internal reservation within the 15 per cent SC quota and expediting long-pending recruitment across departments.
"The Cabinet ratified decisions taken in earlier meetings (April 16 and April 24) and made modifications regarding reservation policies," Patil said.
He said the government will implement internal reservation within the 15 per cent quota for Scheduled Castes in specified proportions and revise recruitment notifications accordingly, with a 400-point roster to be followed.
If fewer than three roster points for SC arise in recruitment, then all 101 Scheduled Caste communities will be allowed to compete under SC general, he said.
Patil added that recruitment notifications issued without incorporating internal reservation will be withdrawn and reissued in line with the revised policy.
"If the Supreme Court approves 24 per cent reservation for SC/ST, six per cent backlog posts will be filled," he said, noting that urgent steps will be taken to fill 56,432 approved posts.
The latest decision follows the Cabinet's April 24 resolution that cleared a revised internal reservation formula within the overall 15 per cent SC quota, paving the way for long-pending government recruitment. The government had approved 5.25 per cent reservation each for the "right-hand" and "left-hand" groups, and about 4.5 per cent for other Scheduled Castes, including nomadic communities.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had then said the categorisation was worked out proportionately within the constitutional ceiling. "From tomorrow onwards, the recruitment process will begin with the issuance of notifications," he had said after the April 24 Cabinet meeting.
He also noted that the SC quota was fixed at 15 per cent and ST at three per cent in line with the 50 per cent cap laid down in the Indra Sawhney case, while pointing out that the Supreme Court had permitted internal reservation within constitutional limits.
