Don't show haste over caste census report, LoP Ashoka to CM

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Leader of Opposition in Karnataka Assembly R Ashoka on Thursday urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah not to rush the release of SocioEconomic and Education Survey report, popularly known as the "caste census", and take all communities and organisations into confidence before going ahead, amid opposition from various quarters to it.

The senior BJP leader also demanded an inquiry and action after the survey's original "worksheet" copy allegedly went missing.

The then Siddaramaiahled Congress government (2013-2018) in 2015 had commissioned the socialeconomic and educational survey, at an estimated cost of Rs 170 crore in the state, the findings of which have not been made public yet.

The state Backward Classes Commission under its then chairperson H Kantharaju was tasked with preparing a caste census report.

The survey work was completed in 2018, towards the end of Siddaramaiah's first tenure as Chief Minister, but was not accepted or made public.

"Kantharaju led commission's survey has led to a lot of confusion...it is a 10 year old report, population has changed since then, and people have complained that their houses were not visited during the survey," Ashoka said.

Speaking to reporters here, he pointed out that the Member-secretary of the State Commission for Backward Classes had not signed the survey report, and also its original "worksheet" copy was missing.

"The report that was prepared by spending over Rs 168 crore, if its original worksheet is missing, why has the government not yet conducted any inquiry? The government has not even commented on the missing document, the government seems to be trying to hide something and save someone. I condemn it," he said, demanding an immediate inquiry into it.

With pressure mounting on his government, from a certain section, to make public the state's survey, following the Bihar government releasing findings of its caste survey, Siddaramaiah has said that a decision will be taken once he receives the report from the current Backward Classes.

With disapproval from the two influential communities, the survey report may turn out to be a hot potato for the government as it may set the stage for a confrontation.

Dalits and OBCs among others are demanding it be made public. Noting that the BJP is not opposed to the survey per say, Ashoka said, it has to be done with a proper yardstick and scientifically.

"Already seers of prominent maths have said that survey was not properly done, but the CM seems to be in a hurry...'' he said.