Bengaluru, April 17 (NationPress) The special Cabinet meeting held on Thursday to discuss the caste census report concluded without reaching any agreement.

The topic is set to be revisited in the upcoming Cabinet meeting, anticipated for next week. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has requested Cabinet members to share their views and concerns, either in writing or verbally, during the next assembly.

According to sources, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and several ministers expressed strong opposition to the caste census report.

Minister for Horticulture S.S. Mallikarjun notably voiced his dissent against the report.

After the special Cabinet meeting, Minister Mallikarjun informed the media that the topic has been postponed.

“No one has provided a definitive opinion regarding the caste census report. Instead, suggestions were made to rectify the deficiencies in the report. There’s no clear opposition or support for the caste census report,” he stated.

When queried about rumors of his objections to the report, Minister Mallikarjun clarified that no discussions based on caste had occurred.

“The conversation revolved around initiating a new survey. Ministers shared their perspectives on the report, and a few have yet to express their views, which is why it has been postponed,” he commented.

Minister for Transport Ramalinga Reddy remarked that the special Cabinet meeting concluded without resolution, with decisions to be made in the subsequent meeting.

“No conclusions have been reached concerning the caste census report. Ministers have been given four to five days to address it. The matter was thoroughly discussed and yielded positive feedback. There’s no indication of opposition or support for the report,” he added.

Minister for Labour Santosh Lad emphasized, “This is a significant issue that cannot be resolved in a single meeting. No one has raised objections, and all have shown positivity towards the report.”

Minister for Large and Medium Industries M.B. Patil noted, “The discussion is ongoing. Everyone has shared their thoughts, and this will continue in the next Cabinet meeting.”

Minister for Cooperation K.N. Rajanna affirmed that there is no opposition to the report.

“All ministers are seeking details on the report, and additional time is needed to provide the necessary information. The next Cabinet meeting will finalize the discussion and reach a decision,” he stated.

Minister for Minor Irrigation N.S. Boseraju mentioned that the special meeting today was inconclusive, with discussions to proceed in the next gathering.

Minister for RDPR, IT, and BT Priyank Kharge declared that there is no dissent among ministers regarding the provision of social justice for the people of Karnataka.

In 2014, during his first term as Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah mandated the Karnataka Socio-Economic and Educational Census. A committee led by former Backward Classes Commission Chairman H. Kantharaju conducted a survey costing approximately Rs 169 crore, with the report completed by 2016. However, subsequent administrations shelved it.

The Congress and JD-S coalition government under H.D. Kumaraswamy and the BJP government under B.S. Yediyurappa and Basavaraj Bommai also left the report pending.

In 2020, the BJP-led Karnataka government appointed Jayaprakash Hegde as the Commission head, but the report remained undisclosed.

Hegde submitted the final report to the Siddaramaiah administration on February 29, 2024. The opposition parties, including the BJP and JD-S, have opposed the report's implementation.

The caste census report from the Backward Classes Commission reportedly estimates the Muslim population in the state at 18.08 percent and suggests 8 percent reservation for the community, sources indicated.

Prominent communities have asserted that the caste census report is flawed and have warned of potential protests. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has previously expressed his commitment to implementing the caste census report.