The Minister of Law and Parliamentary Affairs, HK Patil, is aimed at a press conference in Bangalore on Thursday. | Photo credit: special arrangement
The long -awaited cabinet meeting held on Thursday to discuss the socioeconomic and educational survey (caste census) held by the Karnataka State Commission for the backward classes did not advance, and has deferred more about it to the meeting on May 2.
This was after several ministers sought clarifications about “technical” aspects and wanted additional details to allow discussion.
Prime Minister Siddaramaiah has asked his cabinet colleagues that they present when writing their opinion on the survey, even if it is a dissenting note.
The report of the survey presented by former President K. Jayaprakash Hegde in 2024 has strong resistance from Vokkiga and Veerashaiava-Lingayat communities, who have played their population figures and have called the “non-scientific” report.
‘Incomplete, but cordial’
“The discussion remained incomplete, but it was cordial. The ministers felt that more details were needed to reach a decision. They have sought details about the population and the backwardness,” parliamentary affairs and the law in the letters after the coward.
He said: “The next meeting of the cabinet will be a hero in MM Hills, and the discussion will revolve around the development of the region. Therefore, we are likely to discuss the problem at the cabinet meeting on May 2.”
Agree for him, the ministers discussed the social and economic parameters that had one leg to collect data. He said it was likely that the next cabinet meeting came to a decision on the subject.
The sources said the ministers were not ready for an open discussion, and Mr. Siddaramaiah, shortly after the meeting began, told them that everyone’s opinions would be heard and tasks, and pointed out that the survey would be beneficial for all communities.
When the main vice minister DK Shivakumar suggested that written opinions could be given, the prime minister supported him. “It could not have a concrete discussion,” the sources said, and added that some ministers were also worried about issuing their opinions that could be angry at the prime minister and the high command of the Congress.
While a minister who belongs to the backward classes suggested that Taluk’s level data could be verified through Tahsildar and the process could take time, some more ministers wanted details about the management validation process, Bangalore or the survey.
Public discussion
According to the sources, it was considered that the findings in the report should be disseminated to the public, so it would be an understanding of how the survey had done the leg scientificly. When asked how many more meetings of the cabinet had to reach a final decision, a minister said: “If the ministers continually interact on the subject during the next fortnight, a decision could at the meeting of the cabinet on May 2.”
When asked if the discussion about the collection of only the population data again or the elimination of the exemption of creamy layer for category 1 had discussed the leg, Mr. Patil said: “We have not yet reached that stage. The discussion was only around the process of data collection and parameters.”
Early in the day, seven ministers belonging to the Veashaiva-Lingayat community had in a guest house in Sadashivanagar to mark a united response.
The Akhila Bharatha Veerashaiva Mahasabha sources said that before the May 2 cabinet they would convene a meeting of community legislators, and would also hold a meeting with the representatives of Rajya Vokkaliga Alto.
Published – April 17, 2025 11:32 PM IST