No rift in Karnataka cupboard over caste survey report, assures Siddaramaiah

The state cupboard had accepted the 50-volume report on 11 April, practically a decade after the Karnataka State Fee for Backward Lessons accomplished the survey.

Amongst different issues, the report proposes a rise in reservation for different backward lessons (OBCs) from the prevailing 32 per cent to 51 per cent. This might lead to whole reservation within the state going as much as 85 per cent, together with 10 per cent for the economically weaker sections (EWS) and 24 per cent for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST).

Based on sources, after some ministers expressed reservations concerning the report, Siddaramaiah requested everybody to offer their opinion both in writing or verbally.

Varied communities, particularly Karnataka’s land-owning and politically dominant Vokkaligas and Veershaiva-Lingayats, have expressed “robust reservations” and demanded {that a} recent survey be carried out.

With robust disapproval from the 2 politically influential communities, the survey report might become a political sizzling potato for the federal government, as it might set the stage for a confrontation, with Dalits and a few sections of OBCs amongst others, demanding for it to be made public and carried out.