2 weeks Ago
Bengaluru: Yuva Janata Dal (Secular) president Nikhil Kumaraswamy on Saturday demanded that the state govt convene an all-party meeting to discuss the caste census report. He also urged the inclusion of religious leaders, intellectuals, and community representatives to arrive at a consensus. "We have only questioned the authenticity of the leaked figures and pointed out that the data appears far from the truth," Nikhil said, clarifying that JD(S) is not opposing the caste survey itself.
"However, the process of the survey has not been systematic." Criticising the methodology, he said, "There is no clarity on whose households were surveyed and under what criteria. The entire report needs to be re-evaluated.
The govt must call for an all-party meeting to deliberate on the report." Nikhil pointed to inconsistencies in how sub-castes were grouped. "Among Muslims, there are over 60 sub-groups including Shias and Sunnis.
Christians also have many sub-sects. But they've selectively fragmented some communities while merging others. What kind of social justice is this?" he questioned.
He further termed the caste census "a political conspiracy" . "It is only a big organised political conspiracy initiated by Rahul gandhi. As a result, the survey lacks a scientific approach.
They have left out many small communities, around 398 castes, in their report," he alleged. Lingayat minister are united: M B Patil Industries Minister MB Patil said all Lingayat ministers in the Cabinet are united and will raise their concerns collectively. "All seven ministers from the Lingayat community — Eshwar Khandre, Sharan Prakash Patil, Laxmi Hebbalkar, Sharanbasappa Darshanapur, Shivanand Patil, H.
K. Patil, and myself — met CM Siddaramaiah, held discussions, and then attended the special Cabinet meeting on April 17 to deliberate on the caste census report. We will meet the CM again and place our demands before him before the next meeting.
There is no difference among us. We are united," he said. Responding to reports of a tiff during the Cabinet meeting, Patil said, "Let me clarify — the discussion is being blown out of proportion.
" He admitted a brief exchange took place when Shivanand Patil noted that several senior Congress MLAs had lost in the 2018 polls due to the separate Lingayat religion campaign and advised caution on the caste report. "To this, the CM said, if that had been the case, how could I and Patil have won with such a big margin?" he said, referring to his own 30,000-vote win. "It was just a 60-second spark.
" Eom.
