Politically-influential Lingayats in Karnataka call 'caste census' unscientific, demand fresh survey

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: After Vokkaligas, now Lingayats, the other dominant community in Karnataka, too on Thursday expressed disapproval of the Socio-Economic and Education Survey, popularly known as the 'caste census', calling it unscientific, and demanded a fresh survey.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the All India Veerashaiva Mahasabha, which is the apex body of Veerashaiva Lingayats.

In 2015, the then Siddaramaiah-led Congress government had commissioned the Socio-Economic and Education Survey at an estimated cost of Rs 170 crore in the state, the findings of which have not been made public yet.

However, with the strong disapproval of two dominant communities, Vokkaligas and Lingayats, the issue may turn out to be a hot potato for the Congress government, as it may set the stage for a confrontation, with Dalits and OBCs among others demanding for it to be made public.