Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has taken objection to the Constitutional Amendment Bill providing constitutional status to National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) terming the Bill in its present form“striking at the root of federalism.

The Chief Minister has written a five-page letter to Bhupender Yadav, chairman, Select Committee (Rajya Sabha) examining the Bill, seeking a review and examination of all provisions that seeks to centralise the functions regarding the welfare of Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBCs).

He lists out specific provisions of the Bill to declare communities SEBCs, asks State governments to consult NCBC regarding all welfare and policy measures for them, and empowers NCBC to suggest and evaluate the progress of SEBCs in the State.