Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah Assures Accepting Caste Census Report Amidst Growing Opposition From Lingayat-Vokkaliga Combine

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, speaking at a massive gathering of oppressed classes in Chitradurga on Sunday (28 January), affirmed his commitment to accepting the socio-economic and educational survey report, commonly known as the caste census.

Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, who had previously signed a memorandum from the Vokkaliga Association seeking the rejection of the report, also stated that the government is dedicated to implementing the caste census, as reported by Deccan Herald.

Addressing the convention, Siddaramaiah stated, “Even I am not aware of the findings of this report. Nobody knows nothing about the findings of this report.  But people are opposing it by terming it as unscientific. Therefore, I am assuring here that I will accept the report and if there are any anomalies found in the report, we will surely consult the experts and take suitable steps to rectify them.”

The Chief Minister highlighted that Rahul Gandhi has pledged to conduct a caste census nationwide if the Congress comes to power.

Siddaramaiah emphasised his commitment to democratic processes, stating that he is not a dictator and will strive to get the report accepted, regardless of his position in power.

Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar reiterated the government's commitment to the caste census, citing Rahul Gandhi's call for justice and proportional representation for all sections of society.

In a related development, on 16 December 2023, three senior Lingayat ministers, along with 30 other Lingayat MLAs, signed a petition urging the CM to discard the socio-economic survey from 2016 and initiate a fresh one, adding another layer to the ongoing debate on the caste census in Karnataka.

Also read - Karnataka Caste Census: Ducked By 3 Chief Ministers, Will Siddaramaiah Take The Challenge Amidst Growing Pressure?