Siddaramaiah pushes for release of Karnataka caste census, 75% quota
Siddaramaiah demands public release of Karnataka's caste census report and implementation of up to 75% reservation for Dalits, backward classes and minorities.
Former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has called on the state government to make public the findings of the Socio-Educational Survey conducted by the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes, commonly referred to as the caste census.
Speaking at the silver jubilee celebrations of the Karnataka State Backward Castes Federation, Siddaramaiah said the report was submitted to him just before he demitted office and has not yet been placed before the Cabinet. He urged the government to act on it, noting that the Federation has been demanding its implementation in its original form.
Siddaramaiah acknowledged that the High Court has restrained the disclosure of the report's contents and appealed to Federation president K.M. Ramachandrappa to take steps to have the stay vacated. "I believe that everyone here, including the Chief Minister, will listen to me. The report must be implemented," he said.
He argued for reservation of up to 75% for Dalits, backward classes and minorities, with quotas reflecting the population of different communities. He also demanded political reservation based on population in the Lok Sabha and state legislatures to ensure equitable representation.
Identifying himself as a Shudra, Siddaramaiah said there was "no shame" in belonging to a backward caste, describing the caste system as a historical source of inequality that had denied communities access to education and opportunity. "We are all Shudras, including Lingayats and Vokkaligas," he asserted.
Recalling his decision to withdraw from electoral politics, Siddaramaiah said elections had become prohibitively expensive, but clarified he was not withdrawing from public life.
Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara praised Siddaramaiah for building the AHINDA bloc of minorities, backward classes and SC/STs, saying the movement was aimed at strengthening neglected communities socially, politically and economically.
Ministers Santosh Lad, Madhu Bangarappa, Puttarangashetty, Ajay Singh and Byrathi Suresh were present at the event.