Caste Census Report Expected to be Unveiled in Karnataka Cabinet Meeting Today

Bengaluru, April 11 (NationPress) The contentious caste census report is expected to be unveiled at the cabinet meeting led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru.

Sources indicate that the report, secured in sealed containers, has been transported to the hall at Vidhana Soudha, and the details of the report in a sealed envelope will be disclosed during the cabinet meeting.

The Congress-led administration has also chosen to form a cabinet sub-committee to assess the recommendations of the caste census report, as per sources.

It is reported that Muslims have been identified as the second-largest demographic group following SCs/STs in the census.

Opposition parties, including the BJP and JD(S), have expressed their disapproval regarding the implementation of the report. Significant caste factions like the Lingayats and Vokkaligas have claimed that the report has unfairly represented their population statistics.

When questioned about the situation, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar informed the media on Friday that neither he nor Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has reviewed the caste census report. “Even the ministers have not seen it. Once the report is submitted, a decision will be made following discussions. This matter should not be discussed with the media,” he stated.

In the meantime, PWD Minister Satish Jarkiholi confirmed the development at Vidhana Soudha on Friday, stating that the 'mahurta (auspicious time)' has finally been established for the presentation of the caste census report. “Let the final report come out -- until then, we have to wait. The government should promote open discussion on the caste census. This matter should be presented before the House for public debate,” he added.

Commenting on the situation, Minister for RDPR, IT, and BT Priyank Kharge remarked that it is not strictly a caste census report, as it is commonly termed. “It is a socio-economic survey. If the report is not presented, how can there be any discussion about it? Let it first be presented before the cabinet,” he emphasized.

“Once the report is presented, it will be compared with other data available to the government. The findings of the report should be aligned with existing government data. The Justice H.N. Nagamohan Das Commission, established to review internal reservations, has recommended a resurvey. Likewise, there should be a clear and transparent process concerning the caste census,” Priyank Kharge continued.

Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy mentioned that he had no prior knowledge of the caste census report being introduced in the cabinet meeting. “I have only heard that it might be presented. Once the report is brought before the cabinet, it will enter the public domain. Only then can we provide our feedback and assess its advantages and disadvantages. The caste census was executed by our Congress government,” he said.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, on February 18, affirmed that the caste census was conducted systematically and assured that his administration would implement its findings without hesitation. “Our government endorses the caste census. We have accepted the caste census report and will undoubtedly implement it in the coming days. There is no need for any doubt regarding this,” he assured.

The Karnataka BJP has accused CM Siddaramaiah of wielding the caste census as a political tool whenever pressure mounts on him within his party to resign from his Chief Minister position.

“It has transformed into a political weapon in his hands. Whenever his seat appears vulnerable, he ensures that the debate surrounding the caste census report is reignited. No one has requested the caste census. Siddaramaiah continuously postpones the presentation of the caste census report before the Cabinet,” stated BJP state chief B.Y. Vijayendra previously.

In 2014, Siddaramaiah (during his initial term as Chief Minister) mandated the Karnataka Socio-Economic and Educational Census.

A committee headed by the then Backward Classes Commission H. Kantharaju conducted the survey at a cost of approximately Rs 169 crore. The report was completed by 2016; however, it was subsequently shelved by succeeding administrations. The Congress and JD(S) coalition government led by H.D. Kumaraswamy and the BJP government under B.S. Yediyurappa and Basavaraj Bommai also left the report in limbo.

In 2020, the state's BJP government appointed Jayaprakash Hegde as the Commission chief, although the report was never made public. Hegde submitted the final report to the Siddaramaiah government on February 29, 2024.