Caste census report is 'most scientific': Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara
Bengaluru, Apr 19 (PTI): Terming the caste census as a "most scientific" exercise, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Saturday said the cabinet will take a decision on its implementation after hearing opinion of all the ministers.
His comments come amidst opposition to the survey report from various sections of the society calling it "unscientific". They have demanded that it be rejected, and a fresh survey be conducted.
A special cabinet meeting convened to deliberate on the caste census report on Thursday had ended inconclusive, reportedly amid internal differences within the government.
The cabinet is scheduled to take up the matter again on May 2.
"All ministers have been asked to share their opinion, some of us have participated in the discussion during the cabinet, the discussion will continue, everyone will share their opinion. After hearing everyone's opinion the cabinet will take a decision. It is going to be a cabinet decision, not individuals or the Chief Minister's," Parameshwara said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said, some communities have expressed concern that their population strength has been shown less in the survey.
Stating that after studying the survey, he feels that this is one of the "most scientific" exercise, Parameshwara said, the survey has gone to the extent of gathering information whether the borewell dug by a person was successful with adequate amount of water or whether it turned out to be dry.
"Signatures have been taken after gathering data from every household and supervisor's signatures are also there. These data are available. 1.37 crore families were visited and all the data with signatures are there," he added.
According to sources, some Ministers expressed reservations about the survey report during the cabinet meeting on Thursday, citing concerns expressed from several quarters calling it unscientific and outdated, and about undercounting. Following this Chief Minister Siddaramaiah asked all Ministers to give their opinion in writing or verbally.
Various communities, especially Karnataka's two dominant ones -- Vokkaligas and Veershaiva Lingayats -- have expressed strong reservations about the survey that has been done, calling it "unscientific", and have demanded that it be rejected, and a fresh survey be conducted.
Objections have also been raised by various sections of society, and there are also strong voices against it from within the ruling Congress.
However, not everyone is opposed. Leaders and organisations representing Dalits and some sections of OBCs, among others, are in support of it, and want the government to make the survey report public and proceed with it, stating the government has spent about Rs 160 crore public money on it.
Responding to a question on the opposition's criticism that the report was written sitting at some corner, the Home Minister said, the opposition makes such criticism, and the government has taken note of their criticism and comments.
The main intention and terms of reference for this survey was to study the status of various communities socially, eductionally and economically, and during the survey they have naturally collected data regarding the population of communities, and it has been submitted to the government.
"It is being discussed in the government, ultimately after accepting it the government will prepare programmes and schemes based on it," he added.
Asked if the caste census data was so accurate, why the same data is not being used to provide internal reservation among Scheduled Castes (SCs), instead of going for a fresh survey for that purpose, Parameshwara said, the Justice H N Nagmohan Das Commission which has been mandated to gather empirical data for internal reservation, will compare caste census data too.
"The Nagmohan Das commission was given the mandate for a survey before this caste census report came, there is no need to withdraw it now as it may lead to confusion, it will be good if there are double reports," he said responding to a question about some Vokkaliga and Lingayat Ministers questioning why can't there be a fresh caste census survey, when a separate survey was being done to gather data for internal reservation in a particular community (SCs).
Nagmohan Das Commission has been given two months time for the survey, based on which the government plans to implement internal reservation among SCs. The internal reservation is aimed at slicing up the 17 per cent reservation matrix given to 101 scheduled castes.
Commenting on the incidents, where some students were allegedly asked to remove their Janivaras (sacred thread worn by Brahmins) before entering the CET examination hall at centres in Bidar and Shivamogga districts, the Home Minister said, "it is a big mistake and I can't accept such things."
"Some general guidelines would have been given for conducting exams, will any one instruct such things in guidelines? These acts by individuals are not acceptable," he added.
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Strict security measures in place in Mumbai for Messi's events at 2 venues Dec 14, say police
Mumbai (PTI): In view of Argentine superstar footballer Lionel Messi's visit to Mumbai on Sunday, the city police are implementing stringent security measures, like not allowing water bottles, metals, coins inside the stadiums and setting up watchtowers to keep an eye on the crowd, officials said.
The police also said taking extra care to avoid any stampede-like situation and to prevent recurrence of the chaotic situation that unfolded in Kolkata during Messi's visit on Saturday as thousands of fans protested inside the Salt Lake stadium here after failing to catch a clear glimpse of the football icon despite paying hefty sums for tickets.
Messi is expected to be present at the Cricket Club of India (Brabourne Stadium) in Mumbai on Sunday for a Padel GOAT Cup event followed by attending a celebrity football match. He is expected to proceed to the Wankhede Stadium for the GOAT India Tour main event around 5 pm.
"In view of Lionel Messi's visit to Mumbai, the police are geared up and have put in place a high level of security arrangements in and around the stadiums located in south Mumbai. Considering the chaos that prevailed in Kolkata and the security breach, we have deployed World Cup-level security arrangements at Brabourne and Wankhede stadiums," an official said.
Expecting heavy crowd near the stadiums during Messi's visit, the city police force has deployed more than 2,000 of its personnel near and around both the venues, he said.
As the Mumbai police have the experience of security 'bandobast' during the victory parade of ICC World Cup-winning Indian team and World Cup final match at the Wankhede Stadium, in which over one lakh cricket fans had gathered, we are prepared to handle a large crowd of fans, he said.
"We are trying to avoid the errors that occurred in the past," the official said.
There is no place to sneak inside the stadiums in Mumbai like the Kolkata stadium, according to him.
The police are also asking the organisers to provide all the required facilities to the fans inside the stadium, so that there will be no chaos, he said, adding the spectators have purchased tickets in the range of Rs 5,000 to 25,000. After paying so much of amount, any spectator expects proper services, while enjoying the event, he said.
The police are expecting 33,000 spectators at the Wankhede Stadium and over 4,000 at Brabourne Stadium. Besides this, more than 30,000 people are expected outside and around the stadiums just to have a glimpse of the football sensation, he said.
The organisers responsible for Messi's India visit recently came to Mumbai to discuss security arrangements. During the meeting, the Mumbai police asked them not to take the event lightly, according to the official.
After those requirements were fulfilled, the final security deployment was chalked out, he said.
Police has the standard procedure of the security arrangements inside the Wankhede Stadium, where people are barred from taking water bottles, metals objects, coins. Police are setting up watch towers near the stadiums and there will be traffic diversions, so that there is maximum space available to stand, according to the official.
Police are also appealing to the spectators to use public transport service for commuting and avoid personal vehicles to reach south Mumbai.
To avoid any stampede-like situation, police are also taking precautionary measures and will stop the fans some distance ahead of the stadium and public announcement systems will be used to guide the crowd. Barricades will be placed at various places to manage the crowd.
In case the crowd swells up beyond expectation, the police will divert people to other grounds and preparations in this regard underway, he said.
Additional police force has been deployed in south Mumbai to tackle any kind of situation, he said.
