Will cabinet take a call on caste census, Greater Bengaluru Authority?
Bengaluru: The cabinet meeting scheduled for Friday has garnered significant political interest since ministers are set to deliberate on the contentious socio-economic and educational survey, widely referred to as the state
caste census
.Besides, they are also expected to discuss the govt's proposal to set up a special task force to prevent communal flare-ups in the coastal districts, a decision that comes in the wake of the murder of pro-Hindu activist and rowdy sheeter Suhas Shetty.
It coincides with a BJP delegation meeting governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot, seeking his intervention in "restoring" law and order in these districts and action against assembly speaker UT Khader for "controversial" remarks about the murder case."The govt's proposal of a special force is aimed at protecting anti-social elements who are on a spree killing pro-Hindu activists," said N Ravikumar, BJP chief whip in the legislative council. "The speaker's remarks supporting the suspected murderer's family is evidence of this. Only the governor's intervention can resolve this issue."The cabinet is also expected to schedule the 'appointed day' when the Greater Bengaluru Governance Act will come into force and declare the geographical area of Greater Bengaluru.But the focus will remain firmly on the caste census, especially with the Centre announcing a national caste census. Lingayats and Vokkaligas, the two politically dominant communities in the state, have objected to the state report and have called for it to be scrapped. Both contend that their respective population figures have been deliberately undercounted, while figures of some "select" communities have been inflated.Chief minister Siddaramaiah had convened a special cabinet meeting on April 11 to deliberate on the report, but that meeting ended inconclusive. "The govt is aware of all concerns regarding the caste census," said law and parliamentary affairs minister HK Patil. "While these concerns are largely about population numbers, there is no dispute about the socio-economic and educational assessment. The cabinet will discuss all these aspects before taking a decision."However, the govt faces a challenge since other backward classes (OBCs), including Kurubas, want the report to be implemented, even while Lingayats and Vokkaligas have collaborated to ensure the report is shelved. Six Lingayat ministers led by forest minister Eshwar Khandre met last week and resolved to unitedly oppose the report. Meanwhile, the Vokkaligara Sangha wrote to the CM, urging him to scrap the report.Along with Vokkaligas and Lingayats, other communities such as Brahmins, Vaisyas, Bunts and Kodavas have also expressed concerns about their population figures. "The report is lopsided," said B Kenchappa Gowda, Vokkaligara Sangha president. "It shows the population of certain communities have increased by a staggering 74% to 1400%, while the population of Vokkaligas, Lingayats, Brahmins, Vaisyas and others have been undercounted. This is unacceptable."So far, Siddaramaiah has remained firm and has even suggested that he will base the next state budget on the census report. The census cost the state exchequer Rs 162 crore.
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