CM draws flak for promising to bring Jains under 2B category

coastaldigest.com news network

February 1, 2012

Bidar, February 1: Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda's recent statement that the Government will try to bring Jains under backward classes 2B category has come under fire.

At present, they come under category 3B. The Chief Minister had made the statement at the inauguration of the Mahamasthakabhisheka function in Venur a few days ago.

'Ridiculous'

“It is ridiculous,'' C.S. Dwarakanath, former Chairman of the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes, has said.

“It shows that neither those who make such demands nor those who promise to fulfil them have any knowledge of the constitutional processes involved in declaring a community backward or providing reservation to them,” he said.

“First, the criterion for including any community under category 2B is its backwardness and not its religious minority status. Both the members of the Jain community who made this demand and Mr. Gowda who assured them of trying to fulfil it should understand this. Secondly, the chief Minister should have ideally told the petitioners that he will forward their memorandum to the backward classes commission instead of saying that the Government will take a decision on it,” Mr. Dwarakanath said.

'Statutory requirement'

Ravivarma Kumar, former Chairman of the backward classes commission, who expressed similar views, said: “The Government must consult the backward classes commission on such matters. It is a statutory requirement. No one can overlook that.”

'Hidden agenda'

Khaji Arshed Ali, MLC, alleged that this had exposed the “hidden agenda” of the BJP to disempower Muslims.

“Backward members of the Muslim community are included under category 2B. Those belonging to occupational castes and backward sub-castes among Muslims are included in this category and the creamy layer has been excluded. If the Government tries to include Jains or any other community in this category, it will definitely deprive Muslims of the reservation benefits,” he said.

“Jains were not considered backward by any of the former chairmen of the backward classes commission, including L.G. Havanur, T. Venkataswamy, Chinnappa Reddy, [Mr.] Ravivarma Kumar or [Mr.] Dwarakanath. Moreover, Jains are included under category 3B that provides quota for economically backward communities. They there is no need to include them in category 2B that provides reservation for socially and educationally backward communities,” Mr. Ali said.

According to the Department of Minorities Welfare, minorities form 15.69 per cent of the State's population. Muslims form 12.23 per cent of the State's population, Christians 1.91 per cent, Jains 0.78 per cent, Buddhist 0.74 per cent and Sikhs 0.03 per cent. Muslims are under-represented in education and jobs, he said.

Mr. Ali said that the Chief Minister's claim that Jains were not getting enough representation in education and jobs was false and baseless.

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Jain must be incl in 2B

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Respiratory illnesses rise in Karnataka’s capital as air quality deteriorates

News Network

February 5,2026

Bengaluru: As air quality continues to worsen across several parts of the city, hospitals in Bengaluru are reporting a steady rise in patients suffering from respiratory illnesses such as asthma, bronchitis and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), health officials and doctors said.

Data from the Suvarna Arogya Suraksha Trust (SAST) shows that 3,891 patients received treatment for respiratory ailments between April and November 2024. The figure rose to 4,187 during the same period in 2025.

Private hospitals, too, are witnessing a 10–15 per cent year-on-year increase in such cases.

While doctors caution that the rise cannot be attributed solely to air pollution, a significant number of patients are non-smokers with no prior history of respiratory disease.

“Nearly 70 per cent of the patients we see are non-smokers with no previous respiratory issues. When other causes are ruled out, air pollution emerges as the most likely factor,” said Dr Manjunath PH, consultant interventional pulmonologist at a hospital in Kengeri.

Doctors noted that patient footfall spikes during the winter months and around Deepavali, when air quality typically worsens.

“There is a clear correlation between poor air quality and the rise in cases. People commonly present with persistent cough, breathlessness and irritation of the respiratory tract, indicating the impact of polluted air on their health,” said Dr Sheetal Chaurasia, consultant in pulmonary medicine at a private hospital in Whitefield.

Dr Chaurasia added that respiratory tract infections are also on the rise.

“Poor air quality leads to chronic airway inflammation, making the airways more vulnerable to infections. We are seeing an increase in both upper and lower respiratory tract infections,” she said.

Patients with pre-existing respiratory conditions remain the worst affected.

“For those already diagnosed with respiratory illnesses, deteriorating air quality significantly worsens the condition. Both the frequency and severity of attacks increase sharply,” said Dr Vandana P, a pulmonologist at a hospital on Bannerghatta Road.

Doctors also flagged a worrying trend of rising respiratory problems among younger adults and children.

To reduce exposure, they advised people to wear masks while travelling on two-wheelers or autos and ensure adequate ventilation at home to minimise indoor air pollution.

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