Karnataka cabinet may discuss 'caste census' in next meeting, says Minister
Hindustan TimesKarnataka Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil on Thursday indicated the possibility of the Socio-Economic and Education Survey report, popularly known as the "caste census," being placed before the cabinet at its next meeting. The Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes, under its then Chairman K Jayaprakash Hegde, submitted the report to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on February 29 last year. Responding to a question on the possibility of the state cabinet discussing the caste census report in its next meeting, Patil said, “Quite possible.” The caste census report was submitted to the CM amid objections from certain sections of society and within the ruling Congress. The then Siddaramaiah-led Karnataka's two dominant communities–Vokkaligas and Lingayats–have expressed reservations about the survey Congress government commissioned the survey in 2015 at an estimated cost of ₹170 crore.