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New Indian Express
15 hours ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Lingayats, Vokkaligas welcome fresh caste survey decision
BENGALURU: The two most influential communities of Karnataka — Veerashaiva-Lingayats and Vokkaligas — who had joined forces to resist the controversial Kantharaj Commission report, and had opposed it for nearly a decade, have welcomed the Congress government's move to order a fresh caste survey. They hailed the Congress leadership's decision to scrap the old report and order a fresh survey, which could reshape Karnataka's caste-ridden politics. The All India Veerashaiva Mahasabha declared, 'We have no issue with reservation itself, but only demand a proper scientific study.' The Mahasabha is planning a meeting on June 12 or 13 to chart their next steps, secretary Renuka Prasanna confirmed. Vokkaliga leaders said it was GN Srikantaiah, the Rajya Vokkaligara Meesalathi Samiti and others who were at the forefront of the struggle. Vokkaligara Kriya Samithi president KG Kumar, who had resisted the Socio-Economic Caste Census since 2016, hailed the Congress move as 'justice at last' for his community. 'It's a 10-year fight, and today, we are celebrating a hard-won victory,' declared Kumar. 'We demanded a new survey that's scientific and thorough, and today, the CM, DCM and Congress ministers have delivered. We will gather next Wednesday to thank all our resource persons who stood by us. As our great poet Kuvempu said: 'Sarvarigu Samapalu', and that's all we wanted.' Kumar showered praise on the army of community champions who had rallied in protest. Vokkaliga leaders reminisced about the first-ever joint meeting with the Veerashaiva Mahasabha back in 2016, followed by another during Basavaraj Bommai's tenure in 2022, and another in 2024. 'We'd held dozens of meetings across the state, from Kolar to Kodagu to Mysuru to Hassan, and in 17 districts where Vokkaligas are a force to reckon with.' 'Both communities had maintained from the beginning that the report was riddled with errors and they had comprehensively highlighted the mistakes.''
New Indian Express
12-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Activists flag upper castes identifying as Scheduled Castes in Karnataka
BENGALURU: False caste claims are rocking Karnataka's ongoing caste census, with reports that thousands of upper caste individuals are fraudulently identifying as Scheduled Caste (SC) to gain government benefits. More alarming is that enumerators working under the Justice Nagamohan Das Commission have allegedly been instructed not to demand proof or verification of Beda Jangams and Budaga Jangams, and to simply accept the respondent's word as final. This revelation has prompted SC leaders and rights activists to raise red flags. 'Even in recent surveys, numbers show an increase of about 2 lakh entries, which appears suspicious,' said Renuka Prasanna, secretary, Veerashaiva Mahasabha. 'We are urging people to report their actual caste and not make false claims. Just because an enumerator records, it doesn't mean someone automatically becomes SC, there are official processes involved.' The implications of this alleged loophole are far from minor. A delegation of Scheduled Caste leaders, including former MP Dr L Hanumanthaiah and former minister H Anjaneya, met Justice Nagamohan Das to caution him about the misuse. Dr L Hanumanthaiah told TNIE, 'While we demanded there should be no false entries, the commission said there is a problem because some members have approached the High Court, asking why they were asked to show proof of Beda Jangam and Budaga Jangam identity, while others were not asked for certificates as proof. Considering this serious problem, it is good that enumerators demand proof of identity, because the number of Beda Jangams and Budaga Jangams have shot up from less than 60,000 to over 3 lakh, an increase of 400-500 per cent between 2011 and the present.''
Time of India
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Lingayat, Vokkaliga outfits in Karnataka to fight jointly against caste census
Bengaluru: In a rare display of unity, the apex bodies representing Karnataka's dominant Lingayat and Vokkaliga communities—All India Veerashaiva Mahasabha (AIVM) and Rajya Vokkaligara Sangha—are preparing to join forces against the state govt's socio-economic and educational survey, which they allege has projected a reduced population of both castes. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The two groups are set to meet Thursday in Bengaluru to finalise a joint action committee that will lead the resistance against the caste census. Mahasabha general secretary Renuka Prasanna said the Lingayat group will be represented by senior Congress MLA Shamanur Shivashankarappa. Prasanna also revealed that AIVM is planning to conduct its own independent caste survey. "Considering that a majority of our community members are farmers, the only possible time to get them to participate in the survey is Dec," he said, adding that the Mahasabha is developing software to carry out the private exercise. While these communities have traditionally been seen as political rivals, insiders say a consensus to collaborate has been reached "in principle." We already had three rounds of talks at the office bearers' level and agreed to join hands. However, the joint action committee for opposing the survey report has to be finalised only when the bodies' presidents meet," said an AIVM office-bearer. If everything goes according to the plan, the proposed joint action will make a three-pronged approach: First, lobbying with ministers from their communities in CM Siddaramaiah's cabinet to oppose the release of the survey findings; second, launching coordinated protests across the state if pro-census groups push for its implementation through the Congress high command; and third, preparing a joint legal petition to challenge the survey, if necessary. The Lingayat leadership is also reportedly engaging with other communities discontented by the survey in an attempt to broaden the coalition. "The Lingayats are also reaching out to 'other' communities unhappy with the census report and are trying to woo them into the joint action committee," a source said.
