CM trying to divert public attention from MUDA case, bringing caste census to forefront: Kumaraswamy
Bengaluru, Oct 7: JD(S) leader and Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Monday accused Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of staging "drama" by trying to bring the caste census issue to the forefront, to divert the public attention from the MUDA site allotment case against him.
He hit out at the Congress government in Karnataka for trying to mislead the people on the issue to "cover up" their wrongs, as he also raised questions about the relevance of the report that was prepared about ten years ago.
Siddaramaiah today held discussions with ministers and legislators from backward-class communities, where they are said to have deliberated on the Socio-Economic and Education Survey report, popularly known as the "caste census" report, according to official sources.
Home Minister G Parameshwara on Sunday said the government has decided to place the caste census report before the Cabinet, where it will be discussed and decided whether to table it in the legislature or to make it public directly.
ALSO READ: Kumaraswamy slams Siddaramaiah for accusing Oppn of targeting his wife in MUDA case
"If you discuss scientifically, when was the (H) Kantharaju committee (for caste census) formed? It was probably in 2014. It has been ten years. The caste census was done about ten years ago. In ten years, various developments and changes have taken place....the old census report was kept without releasing it," Kumaraswamy said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said, there won't be any benefit to any community from this caste census that was done a decade ago.
"I was blamed (by Congress), stating that I did not allow the report to be released. How long has it been since the report was handed over to Siddaramaiah (by Jayaprakash Hegde committee)? It was given before the Parliament election. Till now there was no noise about it, and now, in the backdrop of the MUDA scam, this government is trying to mislead the people and is trying to take protection in the name of the caste census," he said.
Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes under its then Chairman K Jayaprakash Hegde on February 29 submitted the "fresh" report to CM Siddaramaiah.
The report -- based on data collected from across the state in 2014-15 -- was submitted amid objections by certain sections of society and also within the ruling Congress.
Karnataka's two dominant communities -- Vokkaliags and Lingayats -- have expressed reservations about the survey, calling it "unscientific", and have demanded that it be rejected and a fresh survey be conducted.
The then Siddaramaiah-led Congress government (2013-2018) in 2015 commissioned the survey in the state at an estimated cost of Rs 170 crore.
The Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes under its then chairperson Kantharaju was tasked with preparing a caste census report.
The survey work was completed in 2018, towards the end of Siddaramaiah's first tenure as chief minister, but it was neither accepted nor its findings were made public.
Responding to a question about senior Congress leader B K Hariprasad's statement on Sunday asserting that the caste census report should be made public and implemented, even if the government goes because of it, Kumaraswamy said, "let them (Congress) go to the polls instead, on the issue caste census. Let them dissolve the assembly and go to the polls once again promising to implement it."
To cover the wrongs committed by the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government, as there is no development work happening in the state and to divert the attention of the people, they have begun the "drama", regarding the caste census, the JD(S) state president alleged.
"Yes that's why (to hide the MUDA case) they have brought the caste census issue to the forefront now, or else why will they bring this issue to the forefront after remaining silent on it all these days? Who had stopped Siddaramaiah from implementing it? Why is the issue being raised all of a sudden now? It is to cover up your wrongs...," he added, responding to a question.
Siddaramaiah is facing the Lokayukta and ED probes into alleged irregularities in the allotment of 14 sites to his wife Parvathi B M by the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA).
Siddaramaiah's wife Parvathi, brother-in-law Mallikarjuna Swamy, Devaraju -- from whom Mallikarjuna Swamy purchased land and gifted it to Parvathi -- and others are named as other accused in the case by Lokayukta.
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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
