Caste census report politically motivated, says R Ashoka

Mangalore Today News Network

Bengaluru, April 19, 2025: Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly R Ashoka has termed the caste census report "bogus" and "politically motivated."

Speaking to reporters here on Friday, Ashoka alleged that the report had been prepared a group under Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s influence.

Pointing out that former chairman of the Karnataka State Backward Classes Commission H Kantharaj had not signed the Socio-Economic and Educational Survey report, Ashoka said, “Kantharaj’s successor Jayaprakash Hegde only found a copy of the report, and not the original document. Hegde had expressed concerns about the report, even putting them down in writing.”

Ashoka sought to know what classification system had been used to categorise children born in the last decade, besides seeking information on criteria used for reservation. Reiterating the BJP’s charge that the report was inaccurate, the LoP said, “the survey skipped institutions such as the Siddaganga Mutt, and even involved schoolchildren for data collection.”

Siddaramaiah delayed implementing the report, drafted in 2015, just so he could avoid handing over power to Deputy CM D K Shivakumar, said Ashoka, dubbing the Cabinet meeting held on Thursday to discuss the caste census a futile exercise.

He demanded that Muslims, described as the second-largest group in the report, should be declassified as minorities.

Pointing out that no community in the state was satisfied with the findings of the survey, Ashoka warned the Congress of huge protests.