Synopsis
Shankar Bidari, president of the All-India Veerashaiva Lingayat Mahasabha in Karnataka, has declared the caste census report presented to the government as unacceptable, highlighting discrepancies in the population count of the community and calling for a new census.Key Takeaways
- Shankar Bidari rejects caste census report.
- Claims actual Veerashaiva-Lingayat population is three crore.
- Community influences a significant number of Assembly seats.
- Minister M.B. Patil supports Bidari's claims.
- Cabinet meeting to discuss census recommendations on April 17.
Bengaluru, April 13 (NationPress) The Karnataka state president of the All-India Veerashaiva Lingayat Mahasabha, Shankar Bidari, addressed the media on Sunday, stating that the caste census report submitted by the Backward Classes Commission to the Congress-led government in Karnataka is unacceptable.
During a statement in Bengaluru, Bidari argued that the report inaccurately depicts the population of the Veerashaiva-Lingayat community, claiming it shows the count as 66 lakh. He asserted that, considering all sub-castes, the true population is closer to three crore in the state. “We will not accept this report under any circumstances. We will urge the government and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to conduct a new caste census,” Bidari emphasized.
The Veerashaiva-Lingayat community is a significant political force in Karnataka, influencing elections in nearly 150 out of 224 Assembly constituencies.
Minister for Large and Medium Industries, M.B. Patil, also commented, stating that the population of the Veerashaiva-Lingayat community is not around 70 lakh as reported, but exceeds one crore.
“I have obtained the caste census report. I will review it thoroughly before offering further comments. After studying the report, I will present my insights at the special cabinet meeting set for April 17,” Patil noted.
“We must clarify uncertainties and deliberate on this issue in the cabinet. Many sub-castes do not officially identify as part of the Lingayat community to access reservation benefits. These factors must be acknowledged and discussed to avoid conflicts,” he added.
The census report suggests that the Lingayat community’s population stands at 66.35 lakh, making up 11.09 percent of the state’s population, which is lower than that of the Muslim population. Currently, the Lingayat community is the largest in Karnataka, representing 17 percent of the population.
The contentious caste census report, provided by the Backward Classes Commission to the Congress-led government in Karnataka, indicates that the Muslim population in the state is at 18.08 percent and recommends 8 percent reservation for the community. Muslims presently receive four percent reservation in the state.
This caste census report was submitted to the state cabinet on April 10, and a special cabinet meeting is scheduled for April 17 to review its recommendations. While no official statement has been released regarding the report, its details have leaked to the public.
In 2014, during his first term as Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah commissioned the Karnataka Socio-Economic and Educational Census. A committee led by the then Backward Classes Commission Chairman, H. Kantharaju, conducted this survey at a cost of approximately Rs 169 crore. Although the report was completed by 2016, it was shelved by subsequent administrations.
