Bengaluru – Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced on Monday that a special cabinet meeting will be held on April 17 to deliberate exclusively on the state’s caste census report. Emphasising his government’s commitment to social justice, Siddaramaiah said, “We are working to build the kind of society envisioned by Dr B.R. Ambedkar.”
The caste census report, submitted by the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes, covers the state’s socio-economic and educational demographics. If made public, it would make Karnataka the second Congress-ruled state after Telangana to release such a report.
However, the decision has sparked political controversy. Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy criticised the move, calling it a “political gimmick” aimed at distracting the public from the Congress government’s alleged failures, including unfulfilled promises, corruption, and rising prices. The Kantharaj Commission’s report was prepared 10 years ago—why act on it now? “If they are serious, let them conduct a fresh survey reflecting today’s demographics,” he said.
Meanwhile, Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge lashed out at the BJP, accusing its leaders of aligning with RSS ideology and misunderstanding constitutional provisions regarding minorities. Muslims are constitutionally recognised as minorities. “BJP leaders like CT Ravi fail to grasp or deliberately ignore this fact,” Kharge stated.
As the state gears up for the April 17 meeting, the caste census continues to stir political debate, potentially reshaping Karnataka’s policy landscape.
