Karnataka cabinet to take up caste census report amid internal opposition
Bengaluru (PTI): Amid what appears to be a caste conundrum, the Karnataka cabinet will hold a special meeting on Thursday to discuss the contentious Socio-Economic and Education Survey report, popularly known as 'caste census'.
According to official sources, the cabinet is considering referring the report to a cabinet sub-committee or an expert committee for further examination.
With Siddaramaiah already indicating that the report will be debated in both houses of the state legislature, sources said it may also be referred to a joint legislative committee. There is also the possibility of convening a special session of the legislature.
The cabinet is likely to deliberate on the report’s recommendation to increase OBC reservation in the state from the current 32 per cent to 51 per cent, sources said adding that the demand for a fresh survey or recounting may also come up.
Several communities, especially Karnataka's two dominant ones -- Vokkaligas and Veershaiva-Lingayats -- have voiced strong objections to the survey, terming it "unscientific". They have demanded that the report be rejected and a fresh survey be conducted.
Objections have also been raised by various sections of society, including from within the ruling Congress party.
However, not all voices are critical. Several leaders and organisations representing Dalits and OBCs among others are in support of it and want the government to release it, pointing out that about Rs 160 crore of public funds has been spent on the exercise.
Given the strong disapproval from the two politically influential communities, the report may turn out to be a political hot potato for the government, as it may set the stage for a confrontation with Dalits and OBCs among others demanding its release and implementation.
The survey's findings are said to be at odds with the "traditional perceptions" of the caste composition in Karnataka, especially the numerical strength of Veerashaiva-Lingayats and Vokkaligas, making it a politically sticky issue. Ministers from these communities are expected to voice their objections during the cabinet meeting, sources said.
Both Veershaiva-Lingayats and Vokkaligas and a few other communities have claimed that their sub-castes have been divided among different categories of OBC, resulting in a decrease in the population. They have alleged that many households were left out from the survey or undercounting.
Amid growing opposition to the survey report, the CM had on Wednesday assured that his government would not let any injustice happen to anyone.
After a long wait, the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes' report was placed before the cabinet for the first time on April 11.
The Siddaramaiah-led government (2013-2018) had in 2015 commissioned the survey in the state.
The State Backward Classes Commission, under its then chairperson H 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, and the report was finalised by his successor K Jayaprakash Hegde in February 2024.
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Om Birla attends swearing-in of new B'desh PM, says India stands ready to support BNP govt
New Delhi (PTI): Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday attended the swearing-in ceremony of new Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in Dhaka, and said India stands ready to support Bangladesh's endeavours to build a democratic, progressive and inclusive nation.
Separately, the speaker called on the new Bangladesh prime minister and conveyed the wishes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He also handed over an invitation from Prime Minister Modi to Rahman to visit India, officials said here.
“Glad to attend the swearing-in ceremony of the new government of Bangladesh led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in Dhaka today. India stands ready to support Bangladesh’s endeavours to build a democratic, progressive and inclusive nation,” Birla posted on X.
Bangladesh High Commissioner to India, Riaz Hamidullah, said in a post on X, “Prime Minister Tarique Rahman conveys his greetings to India and PM Narendra Modi to the visiting India Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla at a courtesy meet following the swearing-in of the new government.
“Speaker Birla conveyed wishes and an invitation to India. Both leaders expressed optimism to work together for the well-being of the people of Bangladesh and India, pursuing a people-centric menu of cooperation.”
Birla also met Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay and other leaders on the sidelines of the event.
Led by Rahman, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) swept to power with a two-thirds majority with 49.97 per cent votes and 209 seats in the polls held on February 12, results for which were declared on February 13.
The Jamaat-e-Islami, which was opposed to Bangladesh's independence from Pakistan in 1971, registered its best-ever performance with 31.76 per cent votes and 68 seats.
The National Citizen Party (NCP) secured the third-highest number of seats, six, and 3.05 per cent votes.
Bangladesh had invited Narendra Modi to the ceremony, but the prime minister could not attend the event as he was scheduled to hold talks with French President Emmanuel Macron in Mumbai on Tuesday.
On reaching Dhaka, Birla said the swearing-in of Rahman was an important moment that would strengthen people-to-people relations and shared democratic values between the two neighbours.
“Honoured to be in Dhaka representing India at the swearing-in ceremony of the new government led by Tarique Rahman as the prime minister. It's an important moment that will strengthen people-to-people ties and shared democratic values between our two nations,” Birla said.
Birla was accompanied by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and other officials.
