High drama prevailed at Freedom Park here when a woman, who was part of the protest against internal reservation matrix among SC communities, tried to immolate herself at the protest venue amidst thousands of protesters who had gathered to demand an increase in reservation quota for their communities.
She poured diesel on herself from a bottle. However, the protesters around her prevented the woman from torching herself and took her away.
The incident occurred where Korma, Koracha, Lambani and Bhovi community members were protesting against the H. N. Nagmohan Das Commission’s report on internal reservation.
They demanded scrapping of the internal reservation matrix, which the government modified and seeks to implement, during the Cabinet meeting scheduled to be held on Thursday.
Angry protesters dislodged the barricades put up by the police and blocked the road besides burning effigies, demanding that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah or the Social Welfare Minister H.C. Mahadevappa come to the spot to hear their grievances.
They later tried to march towards VIdhana Soudha. The police had a tough time controlling the protesters and easing traffic movement.
Traffic from Anand Rao Circle to K.R. Circle was disrupted as hundreds of vehicles were stranded due to the unexpected development on the busy road during the peak hour.
Former BJP legislator P. Rajeev said that the government had come up with its own formula and this would cause injustice to the communities that had suffered discrimination for centuries.
The protesters demanded that the slicing up of the matrix should be done scientifically. The protest was led by State BJP president, B.Y. Vijayendra, and Mr. Rajeev.
Published – September 10, 2025 10:48 pm IST
