Backward Class commission Chairman Jayaprakash Hegde said that the chief minister would decide on the future course of action regarding the report.
Jayaprakash Hegde submitting caste census report to CM Siddaramaiah.
Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes (KSCBC) Chairman Jayaprakash Hegde submitted the final report on the socio-economic and education survey — deemed as Caste census survey — to the state government on Thursday, 29 February.
Hegde said that the report was prepared scientifically by collecting proper information. The Caste census report can play a crucial role in putting Congress’ social justice pitch into actions.
“The survey was conducted under the leadership of deputy commissioners. Revenue department officials and teachers did the survey. And it is a scientific one,” Hegde said.
He said that the chief minister would decide on the future course of action regarding the report.
“There were 54 questions in the survey questionnaire. We have prepared the report based on people’s answers to those questions,” he added.
He said that 5.9 crore people were surveyed to prepare the report, including 1.3 crore families. He added that more than 90 percent of the people in the state were interviewed.
“There were claims that it was not prepared scientifically, but as far as we know, it is scientific,” said Hegde refuting BJP’s claim that the report was not scientific.
Earlier in the day, Karnataka Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister HK Patil had said that the report would be discussed by cabinet members before deciding on the future course of action.
“Today (Thursday), during the Cabinet meeting, the backward class commission may submit the report. Once the report is submitted, we will discuss and decide what will be done,” Patil said.
Leaders from Vokkaliga and Lingayat communities, across party lines, have been opposing the Caste census report.
“I have no comments to make either on the report or on the comments made by our colleagues (claims on anomalies in the report). Since nobody knows what is in the report, how can we say there are anomalies? If anomalies are there, we will observe them only after the submission of the report,” he added.
“Those were all speculations. Some comments were made by those who were not fully aware of the report. Therefore, only after the submission of the report, it will be known,” Patil further said.
“Those (comments) were based on rumours. The report will be submitted. Only after that, anomalies or no anomalies, acceptance or no acceptance, somebody’s observations or comments will be valid.”
“Everything depends on whether we accept it or not. We may receive it. We may take some time to study it. Anything may happen. Any type of decision will be made after the submission of the report,” Patil added.
Meanwhile, BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal opposed the report submitted to the chief minister.
“This survey is not scientific. This has displeased the Lingayats and Vokkaligas. We will oppose this. We will request the Congress government to redo this survey by going door to door and then we will accept it,” he said.
The survey was conducted by the H Kanthraj committee at an estimated cost of ₹162 crore between 2015 and 2018 during the previous Congress government’s tenure.
There were rumours that the report that Kantharaj had prepared had been lost, and Hegde had to put them to rest.
In his letter to the Karnataka chief secretary expressing concerns about the original document of the Kanthraj report missing in 2021, he said: “We required those original documents to write a report. We have the data, which is cent percent safe.”
He added: “We have the hard copy as well as the soft copy of the survey report. There is no problem with the original document.”
Hegde also noted: “Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) has uploaded the entire data to our website (accessible only to officials). There is no question of losing any data.”
In an exclusive conversation with South First last year, Hegde also assured: “We are working hard on putting all the data together to submit the H Kanthraj report on socio-economic and education survey to the government.”
The report led to a divergence of opinions within the Congress leadership in Karnataka — especially between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, who is also the chief of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC).
While Siddaramaiah staunchly supported the acceptance of the report, Shivakumar aligned with pontiffs and leaders from the dominant Vokkaliga community in opposing it.
Those opposed to the report have been calling for a resurvey, adding a layer of complexity to the government’s decision-making process.
Hegde pointed out in his earlier conversation with South First: “Earlier, surveys used to happen on samples. I will not say that we have covered all the houses, but this survey is very close to the populace of Karnataka.”
He added: “Population in every community will increase; I am not denying that. It may also be important to note that we are still using the 2011 census report for various government programmes and works.”
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