Karnataka caste census: Veerashaiva-Lingayats, Vokkaligas raise objection to report


PTI, Mar 2, 2024, 8:30 AM IST

Bengaluru: A day after Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah accepted the socio-economic and education survey report, popularly known as the “caste census”, trouble seems to be mounting for the Congress government with dominant Veerashaiva-Lingayat and Vokkaliga communities reiterating their objection to it and warning of protests.

Both communities have been expressing reservations about the survey, calling it “unscientific” and have demanded that it be rejected and a fresh survey be conducted.

The survey report was submitted to Siddaramaiah by Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes Chairman K Jayaprakash Hegde on Thursday, triggering a renewed debate within the Congress which appeared divided over the issue as a few of its Ministers and MLAs expressed apprehensions.

Siddaramaiah has said the report will be placed before the Cabinet and will be discussed before taking a decision.

Senior Congress MLA Shamanur Shivashankarappa, who heads the All India Veerashaiva Mahasabha, the apex body of Veerashaiva-Lingayats, said his community has been “deliberately” undercounted in the caste census.

“We will not remain silent, we will take necessary action. We will prove that the report is unscientific… Veershaiva-Lingayats and its sub-castes alone are about 2 crore. Let them conduct the scientific census once again,” he said.

The nine-year old survey report has been submitted now, he said. “On the basis of our population, we can say that this is unscientific… It seems that this might have been done deliberately (showing the community’s population low).” Asked whether the Veerashaiva Mahasabha will be conducting a survey, Shivashankarappa said, “we have not done any survey till now, if necessary we will do…. there is a plan… Our numbers are shown as 65-70 lakh. But we are not less than two crore.” The Vokkaliga community, to which Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar belongs, has planned meetings with senior leaders to chalk out future course of action.

Shivakumar along with some ministers from the community had earlier signed a petition addressed to Siddaramaiah urging the government to junk the report.

Noting that the survey contains information without visiting all households, State Vokkaliga Reservation Committee’s chief convener Nagaraj Yelachavadi said, “The report was submitted to the government without making necessary changes as sought by our community’s pontiffs and leaders such as H D Deve Gowda, D K Shivakumar and others.” Vokkaligara Sangha president C N Balakrishna, who is also a JD(S) MLA, said the community is not against the idea of caste census. “Our objection is to this survey, which was not done scientifically,” he said.

Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.

Top News

Balasore tragedy result of composite negligence of railway officials: Orissa High Court

Actress Kasthuri stokes controversy by her remarks on Telugu-speaking people in TN

Three convicted for 2016 Kollam collectorate blast case

Expect Canadian government to ensure justice, uphold rule of law: PM Modi

Lone tusker spotted on NH-166 near Karkala, disrupts traffic

Lokayukta police summon Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah for questioning in MUDA case on Wednesday

Not ‘kaun banega mukhyamantri’ contest; MVA to name CM pick after polls: Jairam Ramesh

Related Articles More

Lone tusker spotted on NH-166 near Karkala, disrupts traffic

Lokayukta police summon Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah for questioning in MUDA case on Wednesday

Man dies after sitting on bursting firecracker box in Bengaluru on Deepavali

Clean-up Drive Conducted at Chitrapura Beach

Bantwal: Theft at ancient Sri Devaki Krishna Ravalnath Temple; Goods worth lakhs stolen

MUST WATCH

Gho Pooja in Deepavali Festival

Melukote Deepavali

Ganapathi Co-operative Society Ltd

Udayavani Chinnara Banna 2024

Annapoorna Aahar | Food Places In Mysore


Latest Additions

Balasore tragedy result of composite negligence of railway officials: Orissa High Court

Actress Kasthuri stokes controversy by her remarks on Telugu-speaking people in TN

Three convicted for 2016 Kollam collectorate blast case

Expect Canadian government to ensure justice, uphold rule of law: PM Modi

Group clash in Indore after argument over bursting firecrackers: NSA slapped against 2 accused

Thanks for visiting Udayavani

You seem to have an Ad Blocker on.
To continue reading, please turn it off or whitelist Udayavani.