Caste census: CM to discuss with Hegde on missing original report

As the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes has reported that the original report of the SocioEconomic and Educational Survey (caste census) prepared by the erstwhile H. Kantharaj Commission is missing, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday said he would discuss the issue with the current chairperson of the backward classes commission K. Jayaprakash Hegde.

“I will discuss the missing report with Mr. Hegde. Even before the report is ready, discussion has commenced. Those who are opposed to the report do not know what is there in the report,” the Chief Minister told presspersons in Bagalkot. He said: “Let us see after the report is submitted. It is not a good development to speak about rumours.”

While commission sources confirmed that the original report of the Kantharaj commission is mis

Siddaramaiah

sing, the crucial data, both in soft copy and hard copy, with signatures of the commission chairman, members, and membersecretary is intact.

On HDK’s statement

Regarding the statement of the former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy that the caste census would divide society, Mr. Siddaramaiah said: “Does he know what is there in the report? No one should speak without knowing what is there. Why will we break the society? Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has accepted the report. Has it affected the society?”

Further, the Chief Minister said that any statement should be based on facts.

BJP stand

Meanwhile, the former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said the BJP would announce its stand after the report is submitted.

“The survey has not been done properly by the backward classes commission due to a lack of consensus between the chairperson and the members. Besides, there was political interference. Mr. Siddaramaiah as Chief Minister then kept quiet despite all these developments.” He said that Mr. Siddaramaiah, who did not receive the report then, was now raking up the caste census issue as the Lok Sabha polls were approaching.

Accusing Mr. Siddaramaiah of creating confusion on the caste census issue from the beginning, Mr. Bommai said: “Initially, he termed the census as the caste census and later branded it as the socioeconomic survey. In the

Government Order, it has been mentioned as the socioacademic report.”

Fresh survey sought

Stating that there are doubts over the survey conducted by the Kantharaj commission, Leader of the Opposition R. Ashok demanded a fresh and transparent survey while warning the government that they would take up a Statewide protest if the report was accepted.

“Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s hurry to accept the report raises doubts. The original report is missing. Several communities have alleged the report to be unscientific, and the signature of the membersecretary is missing. There is no unanimity in the Cabinet,” he said.

Mr. Ashok asked who was responsible for the report going missing and why an investigation has not been ordered.