‘Congress suggested Karnataka govt to re-enumerate caste census data’: KC Venugopal

NEW DELHI: After CM Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar met the Congress top leadership in New Delhi on Tuesday, Congress MP KC Venugopal said that the meeting discussed two to three crucial issues, including the caste census and the Bengaluru stampede.

Speaking to the media, Venugopal said that as some people have “apprehensions” about the caste census data, the Congress top leadership has suggested that the Karnataka government re-enumerate the data.

“Rahul ji, CM of Karnataka, PCC chief of Karnataka and state in-charge met today. Basically, 2-3 issues were discussed. First was the caste census, which the Karnataka government will be going to discuss on June 12 in a special cabinet meeting. The Congress party thinks that whatever the Karnataka Government has done on the Caste Census, it has to be agreed upon in principle. However, there are some apprehensions from some community sections and people about the data. The Congress party has suggested that the Karnataka government re-enumerate within a stipulated time.”

#WATCH | Delhi | Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal says, “Rahul ji, CM of Karnataka, PCC chief of Karnataka and state in-charge met today. The issue related to the caste census report to be taken up in a special cabinet meeting in Karnataka on 12th June was discussed.… pic.twitter.com/5qVq1VQM8Z

— ANI (@ANI) June 10, 2025

Speaking on the Bengaluru stampede near the Chinnaswamy Stadium on June 4 that killed 11 people and left over 50 injured, KC Venugopal said that CM Siddaramaiah briefed the Congress leadership about the action taken by the government.

“We also discussed the current political situation, including the tragic incident that happened in Bengaluru. CM and PCC President briefed the leadership about the incident and the action taken by the government afterwards. We are concerned about every single life. We didn’t want to get involved already, a judicial probe has been ordered, but we want the probe to be completed in a fixed tenure,” the Congress leader said.

“The Central government’s attitude was one of the most important things discussed. They are completely neglecting the state of Karnataka. The Central Plan Allocation to Karnataka is totally unacceptable. They are marginalising Karnataka into a corner. This is an injustice to the people of the state,” Venugopal added.

The Karnataka CM and Deputy CM met the Congress top leadership today at Indira Bhawan in New Delhi.

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)