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Time of India
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
CM Siddaramaiah sandwiched as anti-caste survey agitation brews in Karnataka
File photo: CM Siddaramaiah (Photo: ANI) BENGALURU: Congress's decision to undertake a new caste survey in Karnataka has left the Siddaramaiah government sandwiched between a section of backward classes apprehensive of losing their purported advantage of numbers in the Kantharaj Commission's report and dominant communities like Lingayats and Vokkaligas that seek re-enumeration. This growing divergence over the upcoming "socio-economic and educational survey" comes days after CM Siddaramaiah's seemingly reluctant acceptance of what he said was the Congress brass's call rather than his government's. Some OBC representatives have been urging the state government to implement the recommendations of the original caste survey report, submitted by the Karnataka State Commission for Backwards Classes last year. Data collated by the Kantharaj Commission is said to favour OBCs, especially communities like the Kurubas that were classified under a separate 1-B category with 12% reservation. The report also proposes doubling the reservation for Muslims from 4% to 8%, which some still deem insufficient. The Shoshitha Vargagala Maha Okkota, which represents "oppressed" OBCs, backwards classes and minorities, has threatened a statewide agitation against the proposed new census. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Switch to UnionBank Rewards Card UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo K Ramachadrappa, its president and former head of Karnataka Pradesha Kurubara Sangha, questioned the rationale for allegedly discarding Kantharaj Commission report after spending Rs 168 crore on the previous survey. "Govt claims the survey must be conducted once every 10 years, but that is irrelevant since the Kantharaj report was never implemented," he said. "Our demand is to implement its recommendations. We will meet on June 20 to decide the modalities for our agitation." In contrast, the Lingayat and Vokkaliga communities, both of which had opposed the Kantharaj report, are planning an outreach and an online survey, respectively, to "complement" the survey. B Kenchappa Gowda, president of Vokkaligara Sangha, confirmed his community's plan. Sources said the official notification for the survey could be issued next Thursday, coinciding with Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi's birthday. Rahul, who presided over the meeting in Delhi last week where the Congress brass asked Siddaramaiah and his deputy DK Shivakumar to prepare for re-enumeration, is a proponent of "social justice through caste-based surveys". "Procedure will be followed. We are considering suggestions on the survey's modalities and schedule. I will consult CM Siddaramaiah, and an order will be issued soon based on his directive," state backwards classes welfare minister Shivaraj Tangadagi said. The cabinet has fixed a 90-day timeline to complete the exercise. Madhusudan R Naik, chairperson of BC commission, said preliminary work had already started.
Time of India
15-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
New caste census faces resistance from sections of OBCs
Bengaluru: The govt's decision to commission a new socio-economic and educational survey, commonly known as the caste census, has drawn mixed responses from communities. While a section of backward classes has voiced strong opposition, politically dominant communities such as Lingayats and Vokkaligas have welcomed the move. Some representatives of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) are urging the govt to implement the recommendations of the original report drawn up by the Kantharaj Commission, which was submitted to the govt by the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes (BC commission) last year. This report favours OBCs, especially communities like Kurubas, who were classified under a separate 1-B category with 12% reservation. The report also proposed doubling reservation for Muslims from 4% to 8%, a recommendation that has reportedly disappointed some in the Muslim community due to its perceived insufficiency. T by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Here's What Foundation Repair Should Cost You In Pennsylvania Smart Lifestyle Trends Learn More Undo he Shoshitha Vargagala Maha Okkota (Great Federation of Exploited Communities), an umbrella organisation representing OBCs, backward classes, and minorities, has threatened a statewide agitation against a new census. K Ramachadrappa, president of the Maha Okkota and former head of Karnataka Pradesha Kurubara Sangha, criticised the govt for discarding the Kantharaj Commission report after spending Rs 168 crore on it. "The govt claims the survey must be conducted once every 10 years, but that is irrelevant since the Kantharaj report was never implemented," he said. "Our demand is to implement its recommendations. We will meet on Friday (June 20) to decide on modalities of the agitation. " In contrast, Lingayat and Vokkaliga communities, which had opposed the Kantharaj report, have expressed support for a fresh enumeration. B Kenchappa Gowda, president of Vokkaligara Sangha, said the Sangha plans to conduct an online survey of Vokkaliga communities to "complement" the govt's proposed census. Similarly, Akhila Bharatha Veerashaiva-Lingayat Mahasabha is preparing an outreach programme to spread awareness on the upcoming survey. Officials indicate that the official order to commence the census may be issued on Thursday (June 19), the birthday of Rahul Gandhi, Lok Sabha LoP and senior Congress functionary. Rahul, a major proponent of social justice through caste-based surveys, is said to have encouraged the state govt to adopt a model like Telangana's survey. Backward classes welfare minister Shivaraj Tangadagi said: "Procedure will be followed. We are considering suggestions on the survey's modalities and schedule. I will consult chief minister Siddaramaiah, and an order will be issued soon based on his directions." The cabinet has set a 90-day timeline to complete the enumeration. However, the govt is yet to nominate members to the BC commission. Moreover, the involvement of schoolteachers in the survey may disrupt the academic calendar. Madhusudan R Naik, chairman of the BC commission, confirmed that preliminary work on the survey has begun, with efforts underway to fill the commission's vacant positions.
News18
14-06-2025
- Politics
- News18
Karnataka Congress Bets Big On Fresh Caste Survey, Toes Party High Command's Line
Last Updated: With the contentious Kantharaj report now in cold storage, the government hopes to complete the new caste survey within 60 to 90 days, as demanded by the Congress high command With dominant communities pushing back and AHINDA groups demanding delivery, the Congress government in Karnataka is betting on a fresh survey to help Siddaramaiah regain control over the caste arithmetic and consolidate support across competing blocs ahead of key political battles. With the contentious Kantharaj report now in cold storage, the government hopes to complete the new caste survey within 60 to 90 days, as demanded by the Congress high command. Sources told News18 that the Congress high command cited the example of Telangana, which completed its caste survey in just 70 days. 'So the Karnataka government can also complete it quickly. Much of the base data already exists with the Karnataka State Backward Classes Commission, and only an update with a decade's gap and inclusion of those left out needs to be added, which should make the process faster," a senior official said. Chief minister Siddaramaiah clarified that this will be a fresh, legally mandated enumeration, as the law requires a new survey every ten years. The earlier caste survey was carried out in 2015 through a house-to-house exercise covering 54 parameters. It began on April 11 and concluded on May 30 that year. At the time, Karnataka's population was 6.11 crore as per the 2011 Census and was projected to touch 6.35 crore by 2015. The survey managed to cover 5.98 crore people, with 1.6 lakh personnel involved, of whom 1.33 lakh were teachers, Siddaramaiah said. At recent cabinet meetings, Siddaramaiah told his ministers to submit their views on the caste survey in writing, encouraging open but non-confrontational discussion. Those opposing the report flagged issues related to population figures, criteria for backwardness, and the methodology used in assessing economic and educational indicators. Siddaramaiah assured them that any discrepancies would be addressed collectively. 'This report is meant to help all communities—even those now opposing it," he said. But now, that very report stands effectively shelved. CM Siddaramaiah said that the Congress high command had summoned him and his deputy, DK Shivakumar, to Delhi, where they were advised that the existing Kantharaj report, being ten years old, no longer reflected the current social realities. The views of the commission's current chairman, Madhusudhan Nayak, will also be factored into the process. 'Over ten years, a lot has changed. The law allows for a fresh exercise after this period. The high command was clear: the report must reflect today's reality," the CM said. In the Delhi meeting—attended by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and MP Rahul Gandhi—the leadership instructed that a new enumeration be conducted within 60–90 days. AICC general secretary KC Venugopal told the media that the survey would be expedited and that inclusivity of all communities was a priority for the party. Opposition to the Kantharaj report has not only come from the BJP but also from within the Congress. Some party leaders have strongly objected to the findings of the decade-old caste survey. Siddaramaiah said the decision for a fresh survey was directed by the Congress high command, and a special cabinet meeting convened to take a final call on the contentious backward classes commission report approved it. Earlier, multiple cabinet meetings on the caste survey discussion were held, many of which saw sharp divisions within the Congress itself. Ministers from the Vokkaliga and Lingayat communities insisted that the previous report was flawed and demanded it be discarded in favour of a fresh one. These dominant groups had already opposed the Kantharaj report publicly, calling it biased, and some cited improper methodology. Congress ministers from AHINDA communities—representing minorities, backward classes, and Dalits—pushed for the immediate implementation of the original report prepared by Kantharaj and later revised by Jayaprakash Hegde, who at first headed the backward class commission during the BJP rule and submitted the final report to the Congress government in 2024. Siddaramaiah did not hold back in blaming former CM and now union minister HD Kumaraswamy for blocking the original caste survey report when it was ready to be submitted after his first tenure as chief minister, when he commissioned the study. The report could not be tabled before his tenure ended in 2018. When the Congress-JD(S) coalition came to power and Kumaraswamy became CM, the report was ready. The then backward classes minister, Puttaranga Shetty, was approached by chairman H Kantharaj and other commission members to formally receive it. 'But Kumaraswamy pressured Puttaranga Shetty not to accept it. He stalled it. That's the truth," Siddaramaiah said, holding the JD(S) leader responsible for derailing the process. Once Kantharaj's term ended, the BJP government appointed Jayaprakash Hegde as the new chairman. Siddaramaiah pointed out that all commission members were BJP appointees. Hegde submitted his revised version of the report with fresh recommendations on February 29, 2024. 'Kantharaj was also present at the time of submission," he added. The CM said the report couldn't be discussed due to the Lok Sabha elections. After his government returned to power, it was placed before the cabinet in 2025. About the Author Rohini Swamy Rohini Swamy, Associate Editor at News18, has been a journalist for nearly two decades in the television and digital space. She covers south India for News18's digital platform. She has previously worked with More First Published:
The Hindu
12-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
BJP slams Congress over caste survey report, calls it political ploy to divert attention from stampede tragedy
The BJP on Wednesday described the Congress' decision to junk the Socio-economic and Educational Survey report – popularly known as the caste survey – as an effort to shift public attention from the stampede tragedy in which 11 people died during the victory celebrations of Indian Premier League champions Royal Challengers Bangalore. Addressing media persons here on Wednesday, Mysuru MP Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar said that the survey conducted by the State Government was a wasteful, unscientific, and politically motivated exercise. 'The BJP had always opposed it on the grounds that it was unscientific, and the Congress, with its decision to junk the original report, has conceded that the report is flawed,' said Mr. Wadiyar. He also said that the Centre's planned caste-based census in 2026 would render any parallel State-level effort redundant, and urged the State Government to drop the move as it amounted to wastage of tax payers' money. 'The State Government has proved its incompetence in conducting such an exercise and since the Centre is already taking it up, there was no need for duplication of efforts,' said Mr. Wadiyar. That the decision to re-do the caste survey was taken by the Congress high command in Delhi, raises questions whether Karnataka is ruled by an elected government or office bearers of the All India Congress Committee, he added. 'It is not the Karnataka Cabinet or the people of the State who are taking these decisions – it is being dictated by unelected leaders in Delhi. Is it Rahul Gandhi and K.C. Venugopal who are running Karnataka?' he asked. Pointing out that more than ₹165 crore was spent over 10 years ago in preparing the report, Mr. Wadiyar said that people need to know how the Congress intends to compensate for it. Raghu Kautilya, BJP OBC Morcha State president echoed similar sentiments, and said that with the Congress in trouble in Karnataka over the stampede tragedy, the party leaders have chosen to discard the report to divert public attention and retain their posts. The Congress' move is a clear indicator that the party was prepared to jettison the interest of the backward classes to remain in power, said Mr. Raghu. He also challenged Congress leaders' claim that a new caste survey could be completed in 90 days. 'Is this serious governance or just another headline-grabbing move?' he asked. The BJP leaders said nearly ₹165 crore spent on the Kantharaj survey should be compensated to the tax payers and urged the State Government to focus on practical development issues rather than engaging in politically motivated census exercises.
