Mangaluru: Muslim bodies issue guidelines on how to respond to Caste Census questionnaire
Mangaluru: Ahead of the social and educational survey (caste census) that the Karnataka State Backward Classes Commission will conduct from September 22, a meeting of Muslim jamaats and organisation leaders of Dakshina Kannada district was held under the leadership of Zeenath Baksh Jumma Masjid and the Muslim Central Committee on Wednesday evening at the Yenepoya Hospital auditorium in Mangaluru.
In the meeting, the Commission’s Secretary, Urmila B, explained how the caste census survey will be conducted and what kind of questions the teachers visiting households will ask. She later responded to the queries raised by the participants.
Karnataka Assembly Speaker U T Khader, who spoke at the meeting, highlighted the importance of the survey and urged everyone to participate without fail and provide correct information. He also appealed to the public to share information with the surveyors at the earliest and extend full cooperation.
Following this, a discussion was held among jamaat and organisation leaders on how to respond to questions on religion, caste and sub-caste in the caste census.
After deliberations, the following decisions were taken:
Since the survey will be a new experience for villagers and those with limited education, there is a possibility of confusion. Therefore, social workers, activists and all community organisations must extend their support. Mosques, madrasas, organisations, local jamaats, committees, youth groups and community volunteers should take up awareness programmes among Muslims. With limited time available for preparations, immediate action must be taken.
All individuals and families in the community must be mentally prepared for the census. When government officials visit their homes, they must be welcomed with respect and given full cooperation.
Before September 22, every family should keep ready their ration card, Aadhaar card of all members above six years of age, voter ID card and other necessary documents.
Even if the questionnaire looks lengthy, there is no need to panic. People should answer only the questions they know. For questions they do not know, they can simply respond that they do not know.
In Column 8 of the questionnaire, where religion is asked, all Muslims should mention ‘Islam’.
In Column 9, where caste is asked, Muslims should write ‘Muslim’.
In Column 10, which seeks details of sub-caste, those belonging to the Beary community should write ‘Beary’. Others may mention their specific group, such as Khassab, Kasai, Attari, etc. Alternatively, they may also write only ‘Muslim’.
In Column 15, regarding mother tongue, Beary-speaking people should mention ‘Beary’. Those speaking Urdu, Nawayathi or other languages should write the name of their respective language.
The questionnaire contains 60 questions, but many of them will not apply to everyone. Such questions need not be answered, and respondents may simply say they do not know.
The meeting was attended by Zeenath Baksh Jumma Masjid President Yenepoya Abdullah Kunhi, Central Committee President Alhaj K S Muhammad Masood, S M Rasheed Haji, Hanif Haji, Abdussalam Puthige, former Mayor Ashraf, and leaders of other major organisations.
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Kulkarni became victim of BJP conspiracy as he grew politically in North Karnataka: Shivakumar
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Bengaluru (PTI): Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar claimed on Friday that Congress MLA Vinay Kulkarni, who was sentenced to life imprisonment in a murder case, has become a victim of a BJP conspiracy because he was growing politically in the north Karnataka region.
Stating that he has faith in Kulkarni and believes he has done nothing wrong, he said the former minister will fight the case legally by filing an appeal.
A Bengaluru court on Friday sentenced Kulkarni and fifteen others to life imprisonment in the BJP leader Yogeshgouda Goudar murder case.
On Wednesday, Santhosh Gajanan Bhat, Judge of the Special Court for cases involving elected representatives, convicted Kulkarni and others under various IPC sections, including criminal conspiracy and murder.
“I respect the court. But there was a big conspiracy in this case. When the police were about to file a B-report, the CBI was given the case to harass him (Kulkarni). Vinay Kulkarni has become a victim of a BJP conspiracy as he was growing politically in north Karnataka,” Shivakumar said.
Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, he said Kulkarni has several legal options.
“I have spoken to his family. He swore on God and told me that he had not done anything wrong. I still have faith in him. I feel that he has not done anything wrong. He has an opportunity to file an appeal,” he said, adding that he stands with Kulkarni’s family and supporters and believes he will get justice.
The case pertains to the killing of Goudar, a BJP zilla panchayat member, in Dharwad on June 15, 2016. Kulkarni was a minister at the time. Hired assailants allegedly attacked and hacked Goudar to death in his gym in Saptapur, Dharwad.
Following demands from Goudar’s family and others, the then-BJP government transferred the case to the CBI in 2019.
Veteran BJP leader and former Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, under whose tenure the case was handed over to the CBI, told reporters in Chikkamagaluru, “I said what I needed to say when the crime happened, and what I said—that the guilty should be punished and justice should be served—has proven true.”
Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, BJP leader and MLC C T Ravi, reacting to the court order, said, “Justice delayed, but not denied.”
