Caste Census Survey: Siddaramaiah faces pressure from within Congress to place it before Cabinet
Siddaramaiah has come under pressure from sections of OBC and SC/ST leaders to place the caste census report before the Cabinet – a demand he has agreed with, having always espoused the causes of minorities, OBCs and SC/STs.
BK Hariprasad, permanent invitee at Congress Working Committee, on Sunday urged the CM to take steps to implement the caste census report without any loss of time even if it were to endanger survival of the Congress regime. Hariprasad, an MLC, has been a known critic of the CM, and his sharp comments are bound to provoke reactions from within the Congress ranks.
The CM, speaking to the media at Raichur on Saturday, said he would place the 13-volume findings, submitted to the government in February, before the Cabinet for a decision. The report is officially called the economic, social and educational report and the government has not made the findings public fearing backlash from Lingayats and Vokkaligas, the two major communities.
Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjuna Kharge have been firm that the caste census should be implemented at any cost, Hariprasad, a former CWC member, said, speaking at an event on Sunday. The party cannot compromise on the report’s implementation for the sake of sticking to power, he added, while wondering why the government was dragging on its implementation when it is part of the Congress manifesto.
Home Minister G Parameshwara also on Sunday favoured placing the report before the Cabinet and discussions. The government, he said, has spent Rs 160 crore on conducting the
