West Bengal- Gorkhas Concern

Karnataka Commissions and Omissions KARNATAKA Chief Minister Ramakrishna Hegde's decision to reject the Venkataswamy Commission report, while it may have been politically expedient, has contributed little towards resolving the issues being persistently raised not only in Karnataka but in other States as well. Not only has the State Government included the politically powerful Vokkaligas in the new list, but also the Lingayats who had been excluded by the earlier Havanur Commission. The Backward Special Group has been retained and the existing 15 per cent reservations on the basis of occupation and income limit has been brought down to five per cent. The new policy brings 92 per cent of the State's population under the income-based backward classes category while retaining the level of reservations at 68 per cent and will be in force for three years.