Bengaluru, April 17 (NationPress) Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel, H.D. Kumaraswamy expressed on Thursday that the leaked caste census report must not be presented to the Karnataka Cabinet under any circumstances.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has scheduled a special Cabinet meeting to review the caste census report on Thursday at 4 pm.

In response to the leak of the caste census data, Kumaraswamy challenged CM Siddaramaiah, questioning, “Who deliberately leaked the report before its official release? Who is behind this? What intentions do you have regarding the data that is now public?”

“Dear Chief Minister… an investigation into this leak is imperative. Was the leak orchestrated from the commission? Did it occur after the report reached ministers in the Cabinet? Or was it your own team’s doing?” Kumaraswamy probed.

“Will you address the investigation during the Cabinet meeting? You need to provide answers,” Kumaraswamy insisted.

“Your government bears full responsibility for this leak—there is no doubt. This leaked report must not be introduced in the Cabinet. Do not compromise the integrity of the Cabinet by doing so,” he urged.

Kumaraswamy remarked that suspicions had proven accurate, confirming that the Karnataka government had indeed conducted a caste census.

“But now, Mr. Siddaramaiah is backtracking! He’s now claiming, “It’s not a caste census… it’s an educational and economic survey.” If that is true, what about the numbers circulating publicly? Are these leaked figures identical to the alleged educational and economic survey data that the CM referenced? Or are they different?” Kumaraswamy questioned.

“You (CM Siddaramaiah) have ignited turmoil in a previously peaceful state, creating discord among communities. This is the pinnacle of your maliciousness. The wrongdoing of disrupting harmony among all communities will not be easily forgiven,” Kumaraswamy cautioned.

The caste census report submitted by the Backward Classes Commission to the Congress-led government has estimated the Muslim population in the state at 18.08 percent and recommends an 8 percent reservation for the community, sources indicated.

Faced with strong opposition from significant caste groups and Congress MLAs, the state Cabinet will deliberate on the caste census report.

Meanwhile, the Federation of Oppressed Communities has declared that Karnataka does not belong to the forward castes, warning that if the report remains undisclosed, there will be an outright rebellion across the state.