Genie of caste has emerged in Karnataka too, Moily's demand - Siddaramaiah should release the caste census data.

In the assembly elections of Karnataka, which is known as the fort of the South in the political world, BJP had to face a crushing defeat at the hands of Congress. Now both the major national parties are busy preparing for the assembly elections of five states to be held later this year as well as the Lok Sabha elections 2023. Apart from brainstorming on political strategy, all the parties are also making efforts to consolidate vote banks and castes.

Report made five years ago
After North India, now the discussion on caste based census data has started in South also. Senior Congress leader and former Law Minister Veerappa Moily has demanded from the Congress government of Karnataka that the caste census data and the report prepared about five years ago should be made public.

Report prepared during Siddaramaiah's previous tenure
Senior Congress leader Veerappa Moily demanded Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to release the caste census data. He said that the Congress government should release the caste census report. Former Union Law Minister Moily said that the caste census was conducted during Siddaramaiah's previous tenure (2013-18).

Caste census was conducted under the chairmanship of Kantharaj.
Moily said the caste-based census was conducted by the Karnataka State Backward Classes Commission (KSBCC) under the chairmanship of H Kantharaj. He said that the census report was later submitted to the government by the Kantharaj Commission.

With which Chief Ministers the file was 'buried'
He said that when HD Kumaraswamy was the Chief Minister in the government of Congress and Janata Dal Secular (JDS) formed after 2018, the Kantharaj Commission report was also submitted to him. He said that after the fall of the Congress-JDS coalition government, when BJP's BS Yediyurappa and then Basavaraj Bommai became the Chief Ministers, the caste-based census report was still with the government.

Caste census not the priority of BJP-JDS?
On the reason why the Kantharaj Commission report has not been released in the last five years, Moily said, it only means that the Bharatiya Janata Party and JDS do not want to conduct a caste-based census. This is the reason why both the parties did not release the Kantharaj Commission report.

Political temperature rises due to report released in Bihar
In fact, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar made the caste wise census data public on Monday. Will Moily, like Nitish, demand Siddaramaiah to release the caste census report? On this question, he said that whenever the Congress government comes to power, we make every possible effort for the welfare of the backward caste people. Let us tell you that Moily has also been the former Chief Minister of Karnataka.

Moily himself was CM in 1992, told about his success
Referring to a nearly 30 years old incident, Moily said, in 1992, when he was the Chief Minister, he had released the Chinnappa Reddy Commission report. He said that the Chinnappa Commission report had been prepared during the government of Ramakrishna Hegde (Janata Party). He said that despite the report of the panel formed for caste-based census being ready, not releasing it raises questions on the intentions of the government.

Former Law Minister bluntly – Siddaramaiah should not procrastinate
Regarding the policy of the Congress government, Moily said, they are going to demand from Siddaramaiah to release the caste census report immediately. Now because the Congress government has come to power. Siddaramaiah has become the CM, he will have to release the report. Moily said that if the report reveals 'injustice' and any other kind of 'problems' with any community, then Siddaramaiah can take appropriate action. He said that in the matter of releasing the Kantharaj Commission report, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah should not under any circumstances procrastinate under the guise of technical reasons.

How is Karnataka's politics in the national discussion?
Amidst Moily's demand, it is also interesting to know that Karnataka's strong and veteran leader HD Deve Gowda has given a big statement regarding Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Regarding receiving an offer to join the India Alliance amid the efforts for opposition unity, Deve Gowda said that he had received an offer to join the India Alliance. From whom did the proposal come? On this question, Deve Gowda said that four months ago a proposal to form Janata Freedom Front had come to him.

What did Deve Gowda say after rejecting Nitish's proposal?
Deve Gowda said he was 91 years old and had no interest in national politics and positions. He said, they have not forgotten how Congress betrayed them. Deve Gowda, a prominent leader of Karnataka and leader of Janata Dal (Secular), said that he does not want to do any kind of experiment at this stage of age. He said that Nitish had also put forward the option of merging JDS with his party Janata Dal (United), but he rejected the proposal.

Political alliance with BJP
At a time when the activities for assembly elections are intensifying in five states including the Hindi Heartland (Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh), the alleged offer received by Nitish from Deve Gowda can become a big political event. It is believed that the results of the elections to be held in five states at the end of this year will also have an impact on the Lok Sabha elections 2024. It is also interesting that Deve Gowda, who rejected the offer from Nitish, has decided to forge an alliance with BJP in the general elections.