Caste census report likely to be placed before Karnataka Cabinet on October 18: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah
The Hindu
Karnataka CM claimed that he had commissioned such a census for the first time in India during his earlier stint as Chief Minister (2013-18) through the Karnataka Backward Classes Commission led by H. Kantharaj. “The Commission chairman informed that the census has been conducted through door-to-door visits of all the households,” he said.
Moving a step ahead on the Socio-Economic-Educational Census, popularly known as caste census, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced on Monday that the report is likely to be placed before the Karnataka Cabinet on October 18 to take a call on its implementation.
“Most likely, the caste census report will be placed before the State Cabinet during its meeting on October 18. We will abide by whatever the Cabinet decides,” the Chief Minister told mediapersons after meeting ministers and legislators from Other Backward Communities (OBC) on October 7.
“I met over 30 legislators and ministers from OBC communities today, including BJP legislator Ravi Kumar. All of them have given me a memorandum seeking that the government accept the caste census report and implement it,” he said. He clarified that the caste census was not a census of just OBCs, but that of ‘all the seven crore Kannadigas’.
Stating that he had commissioned such a census for the first time in India during his earlier stint as Chief Minister (2013-18) through the Karnataka Backward Classes Commission led by H. Kantharaj. “The Commission chairman informed that the census has been conducted through door-to-door visits of all the households,” he said.
Referring to questions raised by the opposition on why the census report was not implemented during his earlier stint, he said the report had not been submitted at that time.
He alleged that JD(S) leader H. D. Kumaraswamy, who succeeded him as CM at the head of the JD(S)-Congress coalition government, had refused to accept the report by the Commission. The subsequent BJP government too had desisted from accepting the report, he claimed.
“Later, when I became the CM again, the term of the Mr. Kantharaj was over. Jayaprakash Hegde was appointed chairman of the Backward Classes Commission. Mr. Hegde sought three months’ time to complete the report. The report was submitted to the government. I am yet to read the report,” Mr. Siddaramaiah said.
AIADMK spokesperson demands resignation of Tamil Nadu Health Minister over Chennai Air Show incident
AIADMK leader demands resignation of Tamil Nadu Health Minister over Chennai Air Show incident, blaming DMK government.