‘Will discuss caste census issue in cabinet meeting today’: Home Minister G Parameshwara

BENGALURU: Home Minister G Parameshwara on Thursday said that today’s cabinet meeting will discuss the caste census re-survey, as several communities have raised concerns about missing or incorrect data.

Speaking to mediapersons, Parameshwara said, “We will discuss it in today’s cabinet meeting. Many people have raised many questions. Therefore, we will review it in today’s special cabinet meeting. We also discussed whether it should be taken to the session. The party high command has also asked us to review it. Some people have said that our community has been left out. Some have said their numbers are less than the actual. That is why we are discussing it today.”

Earlier, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar questioned the BJP’s intention in questioning the state government’s decision to re-conduct the caste census. “The BJP was opposed to the earlier caste census, citing data sanctity issues. We have announced a redo of the census, but the BJP is still opposing this too,” he said.

#WATCH | Delhi | On the issue of caste survey, Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar says, “We know the sentiment of people, we respect every life. We have collected information from various sections of society. Some of them feel that it is a 10-year-old survey which has been done,… pic.twitter.com/tENZm2vmnq

— ANI (@ANI) June 11, 2025

Asked about BJP criticising the decision to reconduct the caste census, he said, “The BJP did not accept the earlier caste census report, why the opposition now when we are trying to address the concerns? We are not rejecting the earlier census, we are only trying to correct the shortcomings of the earlier survey in order to allay concerns of several communities.”

Asked if the survey would be conducted in a scientific manner this time, he said, “The modalities would be discussed in the Cabinet meeting. Several communities, including Lambanis, Jains, Bestha communities had met me and raised concerns on the earlier survey. The previous survey was also done scientifically through door-to-door visits, but some of the people were hesitant to share their caste details. Our national leaders have given us certain guidelines. The AICC President too has given us many suggestions. The CM will discuss this in the Cabinet meeting and make a decision.”

Bihar, Karnataka and Telangana have already conducted a caste census in their respective state. Telangana has also implemented a 42 per cent backwards class reservation for people in the state.

The Karnataka State Commission for Backwards Classes has also submitted the caste census (socio, economic and educational survey) report to the Siddaramaiah-led cabinet. The caste census report, if released, will be the second by a Congress-ruled state, after Telangana. (ANI)