Caste Census Divides Karnataka Congress: Kharge Says 'All Upper Caste People Are United On This' In Public Criticism Of D K Shivakumar's Stand

Amid reports indicating a disagreement between Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar over the releasing of the state's caste census report, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge publicly criticised Shivakumar's stand in Rajya Sabha on Monday (11 December).

Kharge accused the upper caste individuals of unity on this issue when BJP members asked for his views on the internal disputes within the State government.

“All upper caste people are united on this,” Kharge charged, The Hindu reported.

During a debate on two Bills associated with Jammu and Kashmir in the Rajya Sabha, Sushil Kumar Modi, a senior BJP MP, said the love the Congress shows towards Other Backward Communities (OBCs) is a farce and cited the example of Shivakumar’s stand on caste census.

Modi challenged Kharge to clarify when the Congress government in Karnataka plans to disclose the caste survey report, noting that the Deputy Chief Minister had signed a petition opposing its public release.

Pralhad Joshi, the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, highlighted that opposition to the issue wasn't only from the Deputy CM, but also from Congress MLAs and leaders of the Veerashaiva Mahasabha.

In response, Kharge asserted that both Shivakumar and the BJP are in opposition to the caste census report.

“He is also opposing, you are also opposing,” Kharge said.

“Both are one in this issue. This is the character of caste. Upper caste people will be united internally,” he said.