Lingayat, Vokkaliga netas huddle ahead of April 17 caste census meet

BENGALURU: Karnataka govt is facing growing internal pressure after the leak of the caste census report that has sparked strong opposition from different quarters. Ahead of the special cabinet meeting scheduled on Thursday to discuss the report in detail, senior netas from the influential Vokkaliga and Lingayat caste groups have called meetings of their respective communities. Both communities maintain that their respective proportions in total population is much more than what the report has estimated.

Deputy CM and PCC chief DK Shivakumar called a special meeting of Congress MLAs from Vokkaliga community Tuesday to address their concerns. "We will have a discussion with them (Vokkaliga legislators) and suggest ways to ensure everyone is respected without hurting anyone's sentiments," Shivakumar said, adding govt will not take any 'hasty decision'.

Forest minister Eshwar Khandre, who is a Lingayat, said: "The opinion of the community's leadership and individuals will be collated so that it can be conveyed at the meeting." CM Siddaramaiah has maintained silence on the issue, stating, "I will talk about it in special cabinet meeting."

The caste census report was submitted to the cabinet on April 10, but its contents have not been officially released to the public. According to the leaked findings, the Vokkaliga population stands at 61.6 lakh, or 10.3% of the state's population, with a proposed reservation of 7%. Lingayats are placed at 11% (66.3 lakh), with a recommendation of 8% reservation. However, internal community divisions - Veerashaiva Lingayats at 10.4 lakh, Panchamasalis at 10.7 lakh, and others - have led to disputes over accurate representation.

The leaked report estimates the Muslim population at 75.2 lakh - or 12.6% of the state's total - and suggests doubling their reservation from 4% to 8%. "This is higher than Vokkaliga community, which is currently considered the second-largest population group in the state," the report says.

Expelled BJP member and Vijayapura MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal questioned the report's credibility and challenged the continued categorisation of Muslims as a minority. "If Muslims are the largest community, then strip the community of 'minority community' status. If the census report is to be accepted, then Brahmins who constitute just 2% of the state's population should be given the minority community status," he said.