Banjara community pontiff attempts suicide against SC internal reservation in Karnataka

Vartha Bharati | 04-04-2023 | 21:01:00 IST

People belonging to the Banjara community protest against the state cabinet's decision to give internal reservation amongst the Scheduled Castes | PTI

Haveri (KTK), Apr 4: A Banjara community pontiff on Tuesday allegedly attempted to end his life by hanging near B R Ambedkar's statue in Shiggaon town, protesting against the internal reservation for Scheduled Castes by the BJP government.

Shiggaon is the home town of Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai from where he got elected to the Karnataka Assembly.

The protestors from the Banjara community led by Thippeshwara Swamiji of Gundur alleged that the internal reservation has done injustice to them, as they were getting more reservation percentage in the earlier scheme of things.

The Swamiji with a large number of his followers from Banjara community held a rally in the town. The pontiff then climbed on the stairs next to the Ambedkar statue and on the pretext of garlanding it, he tried to hang himself from the grill of the staircase.

Immediately, policemen and onlookers saved him. The pontiff was rushed to a hospital in Shiggaon where his condition was said to be serious.

Days before the Assembly election dates were announced, the Karnataka government led by Basawaraj Bommai decided to give internal reservation for the Scheduled Castes. It recommended 6 per cent internal quota for SC (Left), 5.5 per cent for SC (Right), 4.5 per cent for "touchables" (Banjara, Bhovi, Korma and Korcha etc) and one per cent for others. The State government later forwarded the recommendation to the Centre for approval.

A few days ago, BJP strongman B S Yediyurappa felt the heat of the Banjara agitation when people from the Lambani community, especially youth, threw stones on his house and damaged the window panes.

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.

Digital-only toll collection implemented at national highway fee plazas

11-04-2026 ¦ 11-04-2026 IST

Representational Image

New Delhi ( PTI): All user fee payments at National Highway toll plazas across the country are being processed exclusively through digital modes with FASTag or Unified Payments Interface (UPI) from Saturday, according to an official statement.

The move is a significant step towards strengthening efficiency and transparency in toll collection.

However, the statement said, this transition has not been implemented in the states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and West Bengal, as well as the Union Territory of Puducherry, in view of the Model Code of Conduct currently in force due to ongoing assembly polls.