Chamarajanagara: “Like the public sector, reservation should be given in the sports field of Indian cricket. In Indian cricket 70 per cent are upper caste players hence reservation should be given to SC/ST communities,” said actor Chetan.
Speaking at the Ambedkar death anniversary programme held at Patel Hall, here he said that since 2016, reservation has been given to 6 black community players in the South African cricket team. Similarly, there should be reservations in Indian cricket too. Cricket here is rich. He said that the cricket team will be better if the reservation is given to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Communities. Reservation is a representation and not economic empowerment. Reservation for us is an attempt to give priority to each community in terms of education, employment, politics, and geography based on their respective population, he said.
Chetan opined that reservation is not only a privilege but also justice. According to demand by Pontiff Prasannanandapuri Shri of Rajanahalli Valmiki Gurpeeth and Nagmohan Das report, the ST reservation has been increased from 3 per cent to 7 per cent for ST and 15 to 17 per cent for the SC community and this is a good decision. It is reasonable for the Vokkaliga community to fight for an increase in the reservation. But the demand that the Panchmasali community should be included from 3B to 2A is a selfish struggle. According to Justice Sadashiva Commission internal reservation is a just demand. Based on the Sarojini Mahishi report, Kannadigas should be given employment opportunities in Karnataka. There should be no change in education, or job reservation until we get full priority for justice. He said that it is fair to give reservations on the basis of population.
Nalanda Buddhavihara Bodhiratna Banteji of T. Narasipur also spoke. Former Central Relief Committee President M. Ramachandra, Karnataka Buddhist Samaj State President H. R. Mahesh, BVF District President Chandrakant and others were present.
