Post the 2023 Vidhana Soudha elections the Indian National Congress(INC) formed the Karnataka state government with a thumping majority. The multitude of factors that pushed the INC towards this electoral victory have a common thread- a large section of the masses have been heavily impacted by the
continuing economic and communal onslaught on them. The Sangh parivaar tried to communalise their saffron lab of the South using tropes like Hijab ban, anti-cow slaughter law, restructuring of
reservation norms, anti-conversion laws etc. under the ‘able’ leadership of ex-CM Basavraj Bommai. However, the state witnessed a reverse polarisation as most anti-BJP votes consolidated under
the banner of INC resulting in a quantum leap in their vote share. The will and interests of the people have clearly caused an immense face loss for the BJP (detailed election analysis is given in the next article).
As we congratulate the people of Karnataka for thrashing the local Sangh project, we must also take this opportunity to remind the newly formed INC state government to prove that the promises made to the students and youth in their election manifesto are not just election time jumlas. It is also the perfect time for the Siddaramaiah-led state government to scrap the horde of anti-people policies implemented by the erstwhile BJP government, many of which pushed people to vote in favour of the INC. The Spark team puts forth a list of demands as an appeal from the students and youth to this newly formed government.
(i) Scrap National Education Policy 2020 immediately and completely!
(ii) Ensure dignified and universal employment!
(iii) Universal and equitable education should be provided.
(iv) Withdraw the Hijab ban in all educational institutions.
(v) False cases against activists resisting the Hijab ban must be revoked.
(vi) Revoke all government school closures, fill up all teacher vacancies, take back all saffronised textbooks through implementing a scientific curriculum, and provide protein-rich midday-meals in schools.
(vii) Reservation must be restored for Muslim OBCs.
(viii) Proper implementation of reservation policies must be ensured.*
(ix) Restore pre-matric scholarship for SC/ST/OBC students.* Restore full PhD and MPhil fellowships for all minority students. Introduce prematric scholarship for students from minority communities.*
(x) Bring back student politics through student union elections in colleges and universities of Karnataka.
(xi) Uphold the right to protest in any part of Bangalore. There can be no singly designated or restricted place. Ensure proper maintenance of hostels meant for students from the backward classes.
(xii) Revise scholarships for research scholars. Meet the demand of revision of fellowship for veterinary students.
(xiii) Repeal the Factory Amendment Bill that introduces 12-hour work shifts and night shifts for women.
(xiv) Land acquisition must be stopped at Devanahalli.
(xv) Besides the above two, all demands raised by the Joint Committee of Trade Unions and Samyukta Horata must be met.
