Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Apr 18: The special Cabinet meeting convened on Thursday to discuss the controversial caste census report ended without any resolution, with the Karnataka government deciding to defer the matter to the next Cabinet meeting, likely to be held next week.
Chief minister Siddaramaiah reportedly asked his Cabinet colleagues to share their opinions—either in writing or orally—at the upcoming meeting, where a final decision may be taken.
Sources indicated that there was no clear consensus in the meeting, with deputy chief minister D K Shivakumar and several others expressing reservations about the findings of the report. Minister for horticulture S S Mallikarjun, who is also the CM’s son, is said to have opposed the report strongly during the discussion.
Later speaking to the media, minister Mallikarjun downplayed talk of a divide, stating, “There was no strong opposition or support. Ministers only pointed out certain gaps and asked for corrections. The matter is under discussion.”
Transport minister Ramalinga Reddy confirmed that the meeting ended inconclusively. “Ministers have been given a few more days to study the report and respond. We’ve had a detailed discussion, and it was mostly positive,” he said.
Minister for labour Santosh Lad said that a matter of such magnitude cannot be wrapped up in a single sitting. “There was no outright opposition. Everyone is open to the idea,” he added.
Industry minister M B Patil said discussions were still ongoing, while cooperation minister K N Rajanna clarified that no minister had outright rejected the report. “Everyone wants more information and clarity. A final decision will be taken in the next meeting,” he stated.
Minor irrigation minister N S Boseraju also said the matter remained open, and RDPR, IT and BT minister Priyank Kharge remarked that no minister is opposed to providing social justice through such initiatives.
The caste census was originally commissioned in 2014 during Siddaramaiah’s earlier tenure as chief minister. The survey, conducted by the then Backward Classes Commission led by H Kantharaju, cost the state around Rs 169 crore and was completed by 2016. However, successive governments—both Congress-JD(S) and BJP—kept the findings under wraps.
In 2020, the BJP government appointed Jayaprakash Hegde to head the commission. Hegde submitted the final report to the present Congress government on February 29 this year.
While the government has not officially disclosed the contents of the report, sources say it places the Muslim population at 18.08 per cent and recommends an 8 per cent reservation for the community. These figures are said to exceed those of the Vokkaliga and Lingayat communities, sparking controversy.
Leaders of prominent communities, including the Vokkaligas and Veerashaiva-Lingayats, have voiced concerns over the findings and warned of mass protests if the report is implemented without revision.
Chief minister Siddaramaiah has publicly stated that he is committed to implementing the caste census, but with Cabinet ministers now divided, the government appears to be treading cautiously.