Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister HK Patil was in Bangalore at a press conference on Thursday. |Picture source: Special arrangement
The highly anticipated cabinet meeting was held on Thursday to discuss the socio-economic and educational survey (caste census) conducted by the Backward Class Committee of Karnataka and postponed it to the meeting on May 2.
This is after several ministers sought clarification on “technical” and hoped that other details could be discussed.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah asked his cabinet colleagues to submit the investigation in writing, even if it was a objection.
The 2024 investigation report submitted by former chairman K. Jayaprakash Hegde has been severely resisted by the Vokkaliga and Veerashaiava-Llingayat communities, who objected to the figures of their population and called it “unscientific.”
“Incomplete, but kind”
“The discussion is still incomplete, but it is kind. Ministers think more details need to be discussed before a decision is made. They seek details about population and backwardness,” Hong Kong Minister of Law and Parliamentary Affairs HK Patil told Pressperss in a post-racing briefing.
“The next cabinet meeting will be held in MM Hills and the discussion will be centered around the development of the region. Therefore, we will likely discuss this issue at the cabinet meeting on May 2,” he said.
According to him, ministers discussed the social and economic parameters that have been set for the data collected. He said the next cabinet meeting could make a decision on the issue.
Sources said the ministers were not ready for public discussion and shortly after the meeting began, Mr Sidalamaya told them that all opinions would be heard and accepted, noting that the investigation would be beneficial to all communities.
When Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar suggested that written comments could be made, the Chief Minister supported him. “It is impossible to have a specific discussion,” the source said, adding that some ministers were also concerned about their comments, which could anger the Chief Minister and the High Congress Command.
While a minister belonging to the backward class showed that Tahsildar could be examined and that the process might take time, there were some ministers who wanted details about the Indian Institute of Management verification process investigated.
Public discussion
According to sources, people believe that the findings in the report should be spread to the public to understand how to conduct an investigation. When asked how many cabinet meetings still need to be finalized, the minister said: “If the internal ministers continue to interact on the subject for the next two weeks, decisions can be made at the cabinet meeting on May 2.”
Asked if the discussion on re-collecting population data has already discussed the exemption of the Category 1 Cream Layer policy, Mr Patil said: “We are not yet at that stage. The discussion is just a process around the collection of data and parameters.”
Earlier in the day, seven ministers belonging to the Veerashaiva-Lingayat community met at a hotel in Sadashivanagar to respond uniformly with chalk.
Akhila Bharatha Veerashaiva Mahasabha source said they will convene a meeting of lawmakers in the community before the cabinet on May 2 and will also hold a meeting with Rajya Vokkaliga Sangha representatives.
publishing – April 17, 2025 11:32 pm ist
