Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said the Scheduled Tribes reservation quota must be increased if Kurubas are included in the ST list.

Speaking after distributing Valmiki Awards at the Valmiki Jayanti programme held in the Vidhana Soudha here, he also said he would consider the demand for including lessons on Maharshi Valmiki and Ramayana in the school curriculum.

“If Kurubas are included in the ST list, the ST reservation quota must be increased accordingly. I support and agree with that,” the Chief Minister said in his address.

“No one should put their hand into another’s food plate, and no one should snatch away another’s opportunities. That is my commitment.”

The Chief Minister told the gathering that when J H Patel was the Chief Minister, recommendations were made to the Centre to include several communities, including the Bestha community, in the ST list but it has not materialised yet.

Siddaramaiah also assured that former MP V S Ugrappa’s demand to include lessons about Valmiki and the Ramayana in the curriculum would be positively considered.

“Valmiki, who belonged to the Valmiki community that was once deprived of scriptural knowledge, became a great world-renowned sage and composed the magnificent epic Ramayana. Therefore, every member of the community must give top priority to education,” he said.

The CM said it was not wrong to obtain the rights and opportunities your community deserves through organisation and struggle,” he noted.

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.



Kolkata (PTI): Finn Allen blasted a 35-ball 93, while Angkrish Raghuvanshi hit an unbeaten 44-ball 82 as Kolkata Knight Riders kept their playoff hopes alive with a 29-run win over Gujarat Titans in the IPL match here on Saturday.

Sent in to bat, Allen went on a six-hitting spree, smashing 10 maximums and four boundaries to add 95 off 41 balls with Raghuvanshi (82).

Raghuvanshi then shared another 108 off 53 balls with Cameron Green (52 not out) to power KKR to a challenging 247 for 2.

In reply, GT could manage 218-4, riding on skipper Shubman Gill's 49-ball 85 and a 35-ball 57 from Jos Buttler. Opener Sai Sudarsan was retired hurt but returned to make a 28-ball 53 not out.

Sunil Narine (2/29) claimed two wickets and Saurabh Dubey snapped one for KKR.

For GT, Mohammed Siraj (1/50), Sai Kishore (1/38) were the wicket-takers.

Brief Score:

KKR: 247 for 2 in 20 overs (Finn Allen 93, Angkrish Raghuvanshi 82 not out, Camero Green 52 not out; Mohammed Siraj 1/50).

GT: 218 for 4 in 20 overs (Shubman Gill 85, Sunil Narine 2/29).