Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Apr 15: Union minister for heavy industries and steel H D Kumaraswamy on Tuesday came down heavily on the caste census report submitted to the Karnataka government, calling it “deeply unjust” and vowing to fight it.
Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Kumaraswamy expressed strong reservations about the contents of the report, particularly the population figures attributed to the Vokkaliga and Veerashaiva-Lingayat communities.
“I do not accept this caste census report. I will stand against this injustice. If required, I am prepared to fight it all the way,” he said.
Slamming deputy chief minister D K Shivakumar, Kumaraswamy accused him of abandoning his earlier opposition to the report in pursuit of political ambition.
“At one point, Shivakumar raised doubts about this caste census. Today, for the sake of the chief minister’s post, he has turned silent and is blindly supporting it,” he said.
The JD(S) leader questioned the authenticity and intention behind the figures. “What is the population of Vokkaligas in Mandya, Kolar, Ramanagara, Tumakuru and Chikkaballapur? This report shows figures that are nowhere close to ground reality,” he said.
Calling the report a “deliberate attempt to create unrest,” Kumaraswamy claimed that the data was selectively leaked to the public.
“It appears to be a politically motivated conspiracy. This isn't just about numbers—it’s about misleading people, provoking communities, and diverting attention from the real issues like inflation and corruption,” he alleged.
He criticised the government for receiving the report without scrutiny. “The way the cabinet welcomed this report raises questions. The entire process is shrouded in secrecy,” he said.
Referring to the alleged figures, Kumaraswamy pointed out that the Muslim population has been shown as 18.08 percent with a recommended reservation of 8 percent. In contrast, the Vokkaliga population is shown as 10.31 percent with 7 percent reservation, and the Lingayat community, shown at 11.09 percent, is recommended 8 percent reservation.
“How can these numbers be justified? This is nothing but betrayal,” he said, claiming that the Vokkaliga community is being sidelined.
He reiterated that the JD(S) would oppose the report and demanded a thorough and transparent debate on the methodology and data collection.
The caste census report was submitted to the state cabinet on April 10. A special cabinet meeting has been scheduled for April 17 to deliberate on its implementation.
Though no official statement has been made public, the contents of the report have been leaked and widely circulated, drawing strong reactions from multiple communities across the state.