Mysore/Mysuru: Akhila Karnataka Brahmana Mahasabha President Ashok Haranahalli said that he will take up the 10 percent reservation issue for economically backward upper castes, including Brahmins with Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai shortly.

He was speaking after being honoured at a programme organised by District Brahmin Mahasabha in association with Sandhya Suraksha Trust at Sarada Vilas College Centenary Hall in Krishnamurthypuram here on Saturday.

Pointing out that there was a need to sensitise the society on religious values especially in the  present circumstances, Ashok Haranahalli, who is also a former Advocate General of Karnataka, regretted that though the Central Government has introduced 10 percent reservation for economically backward upper castes in education and jobs, this reservation is yet to be introduced in Karnataka. As such, he has  proposed to take a delegation of Brahmin Legislators to the Chief Minister, seeking implementation of 10 percent reservation.

Maintaining that a Brahmin Samudaya Bhavan will be built in Bengaluru, he said that he will seek funds from the Government for the same. Stating that a Mahasabha website will be launched through which the community members can enroll for membership, he declared that ‘Vipra Nudi’ paper will be re-started shortly. The Mahasabha has also planned to bring out an English paper in March, he added. He further said that modalities are being worked out for providing free medical facilities and legal consultancy for community members. Also, it is proposed to conduct 1 crore Gayatri Japa Yagna in the days ahead, he added.

Referring to opposition by some for release of grants for Sanskrit University, Ashok said that though we must promote Kannada, it is not correct to oppose Sanskrit. Asserting that it is not right to oppose establishment of Sanskrit University, he wondered why Kannada activists had sent their children to English Medium Schools.

Earlier, former Kuvempu Bhasha Bharathi Chairman Dr. Pradhan Gurudatta, who inaugurated the event and delivered the felicitation address, said that Ashok Haranahalli, who is the son of late politician Haranahalli Ramaswamy, has brought laurels to the State through social service and achievements as an advocate.

Ashok Haranahalli , who was elected as the new President of Akhila Karnataka Brahmin Mahasabha in the elections held late last year, was honoured by various organisations on the occasion. However, newly elected Kannada Sahitya Parishat Chairman  Nadoja Mahesh Joshi, who too was to be honoured, was absent.

Hoysala Karnataka Sangha President H.R. Sundareshan, Sarada Vilas Educational Institutions Secretary Chandrashekar, Mysuru District Kannada Sahitya Parishat President Maddikere Gopal, Senior Journalist Amshi Prasannakumar, Social Worker Jayanth and retired Tahsildar V. Ranganath too were felicitated.

MUDA Chairman H.V. Rajeev, Corporator M.V. Ramprasad, Brahmana Mahasabha Vice-President Pushpa Iyengar, District Brahmin Mahasabha President Dr. B.R. Nataraj Jois and others were present.