Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Saturday said that the police have been instructed to take legal action against those involved in hoarding and black marketing of LPG cylinders.
In light of the restrictions imposed on supplies resulting from the conflict in West Asia, he expressed his hope that supplies would be restored as soon as possible.
“If anyone tries to store gas cylinders or market them in the black market, legal action will be taken against him. Police have received instructions in this regard across the state… and we will not allow it,” Parameshwara told reporters here.
He added, quoting officials, that there are no problems in supplying household gas cylinders so far. However, there are supply issues related to commercial gas cylinders.
He added, “Hotels may face problems for a few days, and efforts are underway to solve the problem.”
He expressed his hope that gas and oil supplies from the Gulf countries would improve soon, pointing to reports that two Indian ships passed through the Strait of Hormuz after Iran granted India some exemptions.
Replying to a question, the minister said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah held a special Cabinet meeting on March 27 to discuss internal reservation in appointments. “We expect the issue to be resolved that day.”
He added, “After the decision of the Council of Ministers, the government will issue an order, after which the recruitment process will begin. The government said that it will stop recruitment for more than 56,000 jobs, and everything is ready for the process. In my ministry (the Ministry of Interior), 8,000 vacant positions will be filled. We will immediately adopt (the decision regarding reservation) and begin the recruitment process.”
Reports have emerged of divisions between the SC (right) and Communist Party (left) factions within the ruling Congress over internal reservation during the announced recruitment of 56,432 vacant posts.
The state government recently decided to conduct recruitment for 56,432 vacancies based on the reservation order effective before December 28, 2022 (15 per cent for SCs and 3 per cent for SCs), on account of maintaining the enhanced quota and internal reservation, while continuing to pursue its case in court.
The previous BJP government had increased the reservation quota for Scheduled Castes from 15 per cent to 17 per cent and for Scheduled Tribes from 3 per cent to 7 per cent, taking the state’s total reservations to 56 per cent, exceeding the 50 per cent ceiling imposed by the Supreme Court.
While the matter is still before the court, the Congress government decided to provide internal reservation by dividing the 17 per cent reservation matrix given to 101 scheduled castes, into three groups, in the form of 6, 6 and 5 per cent respectively.
According to sources, the SC (L)/Madiga community, which has been fighting for internal reservation for decades, is opposing recruitment to 56,432 posts without provision of internal reservation. However, the SC(R)/Huliya community preferred recruitment without offering internal reservation.
