State Cabinet likely to discuss caste census on Oct 18: CM

NT Correspondent Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday said that the Socio-Economic and Education Survey report, popularly known as the caste census, will "most likely" be placed before the Cabinet for discussion on October 18, and the government will act further in accordance with the decision taken in the meeting. Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes under its then Chairman K Jayaprakash Hegde on February 29 submitted the report to CM Siddaramaiah. The report was submitted amid objections by certain sections of society and also within the ruling Congress. Karnataka's two dominant communities -- Vokkaliags and Lingayats -- have expressed reservations about the survey, calling it "unscientific", and have demanded that it be rejected and a fresh survey be conducted.

Siddaramaiah on Monday held discussions with ministers and legislators from backward-class communities. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, the chief minister said members of Parliament were also invited for the meeting, but no one came. About 30 legislators attended the meeting, including BJP MLC N Ravi Kumar. "They have given me a request letter. In the letter, most importantly, they demanded that the government should accept the Socio-Economic and Education Survey report and implement it. I want to clarify that this is not a caste survey of backward classes, it is a survey of 7 crore Kannadigas," Siddaramaiah said. He said for the first time in the country such a survey was done in Karnataka, and pointed out that it was carried out by the Congress government, when he was the chief minister earlier.