BENGALURU: Reservation will help solve caste-related issues in society, said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday. He was speaking at the 100th birth anniversary celebration of former chief minister D Devaraj Urs in the city.
“Devaraj Urs was the first chief minister in the country who gave adequate representation to all sections of society. The poor and the downtrodden did not even have a voice but Urs changed all that. He gave tickets to the downtrodden to contest elections, which was a great move.
“Reservation must exist, it will ensure development. People however say that those who are meritorious will be affected if this happens. However, Ambedkar said that reservations must exist till the caste system is abolished. If there is no caste system, there will be equality everywhere,” he said. Talking about the socio-economic survey of Karnataka, he said it will be completed shortly, and necessary schemes can be doled out.
“The survey is nearing its completion. Out of the 6.11 crore people in the state, around 5.97 crore have been covered. In Bengaluru, around 78 lakh people have been covered. I have directed the authorities to expedite the survey,” he said.
The Chief Minister also used the platform to dismiss the “baseless” allegations that he has been dividing the society.