From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Belagavi, Dec 12: Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Tuesday clarified that he had never expressed opposition to the caste census per se but was only demanding a scientific and systematic approach to the census.
Speaking to reporters outside Suvarna Soudha in Belagavi, he said: “Several legislators have complained that the caste census wasn’t done scientifically. There have been complaints that door-to-door survey wasn’t done during the caste census. It is only appropriate that all communities get a true representation of their population in the census so that they get proportional benefits.”
“We are only asking if the survey has been done in a scientific manner. I believe in social and economic surveys and I stand by the Congress party’s philosophy of social justice to all communities. I am also a backward class leader but as the president of the party it is my duty to look at all communities with the same lens,” he said.
Shivakumar pointed out that AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge had stated in Rajya Sabha that BJP opposed the caste census. He made it clear that Kharge did not say he (Shivakumar) had opposed caste census.
Asked about missing documents of the caste census, he said he was not aware of it. “I have spoken to the Backward Classes Commission chairman Jayaprakash Hegde and I am told that the caste census report doesn’t have the signature of the secretary. Lack of signature from the authorised persons raises the question of the validity of the census report,” he said.
"I am, will always be a Congressman’’
To a question on former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy’s statement that an influential Congress minister along with 50-60 MLAs would join the BJP and was negotiating with BJP leaders, Shivakumar said, “I am a born Congressman. I am not crazy to go to another party. I have my own ideals and I have great belief in the Gandhi family and the Congress party.’’
He accused the JD(S) leader of floating rumours and insinuating that he was planning to join the BJP and mentioned that the JD(S) leader has been constantly spreading false information to curry favours with BJP leaders.
"I have been a loyal Congress person and have remained loyal to the party even when I was jailed and told that all the cases against me will be quashed. I am not worried about anything. I will remain a Congressman,’’ he asserted.