No opposition to caste census report in cabinet, Ministers did not speak in raised voice: K'taka CM
Bengaluru, Apr 18 (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday said there was no opposition to the Social and Educational Survey report, popularly known as 'caste census', during a special meeting of the state cabinet that was convened last evening to discuss it.
He also clarified that the Ministers did not indulge in any loud arguments with each other during the discussions, as reported by a section of the media.
"Yesterday, it (caste census report) was discussed in the cabinet, it was incomplete, and it has been posted for another day. The subject will be discussed in the next cabinet. No one has opposed it," Siddaramaiah said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said, "Media reports that some Ministers indulged in a loud argument with each other are false."
Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar too ruled out any aggressive arguments at the cabinet meeting.
Speaking to reporters here separately, he said, "We have shared thoughts, that's all. Speaking in raised voices or arguments, nothing of that sort happened. Suggestions were given. Other than that nothing was decided."
The cabinet discussed the parameters used for the survey, and sought for more information and technical details from senior officials, Law and Parliament Affairs Minister H K Patil said on Thursday after the meeting, adding that the cabinet will once again discuss the survey report on May 2 and decide on it.
According to sources, some Ministers expressed reservations about the survey report, citing concerns expressed from several quarters calling it unscientific and outdated, and about undercounting.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.
Though there were reports that a couple of ministers spoke in an "upset tone" during the discussion on the survey report, expressing their reservation about it, this was not confirmed by other ministers present in the cabinet meeting. They maintained that the meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere.
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.
With strong disapproval from the two politically influential communities, the survey 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 some sections of OBCs, among others demanding for it to be made public and implemented.
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Several organisations oppose proposal of changing Mount Abu's name
Jaipur, May 6 (PTI): Protests against a proposal to change the name of Mount Abu to 'Aburaj Teerth' and banning non-vegetarian food and alcohol in Rajasthan’s only hill station are mounting with locals saying it will severely impact the town's economy.
A letter from the department of local self government to the nagar parishad commissioner on April 25 had sought a "factual comment" of the commissioner regarding renaming Mount Abu as 'Aburaj Teerth' and prohibiting meat and liquor consumption in the open.
Looking at the religious significance of Mount Abu, a proposal to change the name to 'Aburaj Teerth' was passed in the board meeting of the Nagar Parishad in October last year. The proposal was sent to the state government, where it is pending.
After this, several MLAs of the ruling party wrote letters to Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma to change Mount Abu's name due to its religious significance and ban liquor and meat consumption in the open.
Local businessmen argue that Mount Abu is known worldwide by this name and changing the name will create confusion. Moreover, prohibiting non-veg food and liquor consumption will drastically reduce the number of tourists, they argued.
Twenty-three organisations, including Mount Abu Hotel Association, Laghu Vyapar Sangh, Sindhi Seva Samaj, Valmiki Samaj, Muslim Auquaf Committee, and Nakki Lake Vyapar Sansthan, handed over a memorandum, addressed to the chief minister to Sub Divisional Officer Dr Anshu Priya on Monday.
The SDM said that the proposal is pending at the state government level.
Saurabh Gangadia, secretary of Mount Abu Hotel Association, said that nearly five to six thousand tourists visit Mount Abu daily, and most of them come from neighbouring Gujarat, which is a dry state.
"The entire economy of Mount Abu is run on tourism activities and such a move to declare Mount Abu a 'Teerth' and prohibiting liquor and meat will destroy the economy," he said.
He claimed that nearly 15000 people were directly or indirectly associated with tourism-related activities in Mount Abu and if the number of tourists drops, it will have a negative impact on their livelihood.
"With a sharp decline in tourists, there will be an increase in unemployment and migration and business units will shut down," Dinesh Mali, secretary of Street Vendors Committee, said.
"There is absolutely no need to change the name and take such steps which have the potential of causing great harm to the economy and its people," he added.
The local business stakeholders said that the name 'Mount Abu' is internationally established and it features in global travel books, Google Maps, Wikipedia, tourism portals, travel advisories, foreign tour packages, international directories and academic texts.
According to the tourism department, the history of Mount Abu can be traced back to the Puranas. Known as "Arbudaranya" or "the forest of Arbhuda" in the Puranic Age, Mount Abu is described to have served as a retreat for sage Vashistha.
A popular mythological story associated with Mount Abu mentions a serpent named Arbhuda, who had saved the life of Nandi, Lord Shiva's mount, here.
