Siddaramaiah lifts the hijab and janivara only when his chair is threatened, says Karjol

BJP MP Govind Karjol says that whenever Siddaramaiah’s position came under threat, he resorted to such tricks and tries to mislead people. | Photo credit: FILE PHOTO

BJP MP Govind Karjol on Sunday said that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is trying to divert public attention by raising issues like hijab, janivara and Shivadhara at a time when his “seat is under threat”.

Answering questions from reporters in Kalaburagi, Mr. Karjol said that practices like wearing hijab, janivara and shivadhara are not new and have been part of Indian culture for generations.

He said school uniforms were introduced to ensure equality among students and therefore there was no need to issue orders regarding hijab or janiwara.

“Whenever Siddaramaiah’s position was threatened, he resorted to such tricks. He tries to deceive people. Twice he ordered caste polls but the reports never came out. Such tricks continued during his eight years in power,” Mr. Karjol said.

Later, speaking at the birth anniversary celebrations of Babu Jagjivan Ram organized at Aakruti Kalyana Mantapa in Kamalapur at the taluk level, the BJP leader accused the state government of doing injustice to the Madiga community on the issue of internal reservation.

He said that both the Nagamohan Das Commission and the Sadashiva Commission had recommended 6% reservation for the Madiga community under the Scheduled Castes category considering its larger population. But the Congress government gave them only 5.25%, he added.

“We are nobody’s business. We only demand our rightful share. If it is not given, we will organize a massive agitation,” he warned.

Mr. Karjol said the Congress had promised to implement the internal reservation in the very first Assembly session if it was voted to power in 2013 and again in 2023, but had failed to fulfill the promise.

He also criticized the government’s internal reservation order, which states that it will only apply in wards where there are more than 14 seats, limiting opportunities for Madiga youth.

“Big posts are available only in limited numbers. This will result in injustice to our children. Reservation will be limited to lower posts like pourakarmikas, police personnel and teachers,” he said.

Mr. Karjol said BR Ambedkar originally envisioned reservation for just 10 years, but after his demise, it was Babu Jagjivan Ram who worked to continue it.

Recalling the contribution of Jagjivan Ram as the Union Agriculture Minister, he said the Green Revolution launched under his leadership transformed India from a food-deficient nation to a nation capable of feeding a population of 145 million people.

Niragudi seer Hawa Mallinath Maharaj and several local BJP leaders and organizers were present at the programme.

Published – 17 May 2026 19:54 IST