BENGALURU: The Vokkaliga community, which met in the city on Saturday, has passed a resolution demanding the postponement of the caste census and an extension of the time for conducting the survey by another 15 days. The meeting, held under the leadership of Adichunchanagiri Swamiji Nirmalananda Swamiji, emphasized the need for a more comprehensive approach to the caste census.
Other seers including Nanjavadhoota math seer, Nischalananda Swami and other math heads along with Deputy CM D K Shivakumar, Union ministers H D Kumaraswamy and Shobha Karandlaje, BJP leaders R Ashoka, Dr Ashwath Narayan, Dr K Sudhakar apart from other community leaders.
While welcoming the caste survey, the meeting has put forth a few major demands — Postponement of caste census to ensure that it is conducted properly and without haste, extension of time for conducting the caste census like done in Telangana, stating that 15 days is insufficient for the task, exclusion of Christians from the Vokkaliga caste: The community has also demanded that Christians be excluded from the caste census.
The community has resolved that all members should enter their caste as ‘Vokkaliga’ and consider including sub-castes if necessary. The meeting emphasized the need for more awareness to ensure that the caste census is conducted fairly and accurately.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, Vokkaligara Sangha president Kenchappa Gowda said, “At the meeting, it was decided that the caste census should be put off as it can’t be done in haste. Also, the duration of the exercise should be increased. The community members should first write Vokkaliga and can mention their sub-caste if needed. The Vokkaligara Sangha will work together to raise awareness and visit all villages”.
