On a day when Hardik Patel is trending again, a demand for a different kind of reservation has resurfaced in Karnataka: jobs for regional people in the private sector.

Chairperson of the Kannada Development Auhtority L Hanumanthaiah has urged the state government to implement the recommendations of the Sarojini Mahishi Committee, which included reservation for local people in companies in the private sector.

Holding a press conference in Bengaluru on Saturday, Hanumanthaiah said that jobs must be reserved for Kannadigas in Group C, and group D posts in private companies. He said that the government must ensure that a clause regarding this must be included as a legal requirement when the state government signs MoUs with investing companies, especially those in the IT and BT sectors.

According to existing policy from September 2014, in every new public sector or private industrial unit that avails government sops related to land, water and the like, Kannadigas have to comprise 70% of the employees on an overall basis and 100% at the Group D level. Group D jobs includes among others, security and housekeeping personnel.

The Kannada Development Authority whose chairman enjoys the rank of a Cabinet minister had also demanded that Kannada medium students should get reservation in professional courses.