Karnataka caste survey: No decision on accepting findings, next meet on May 2

According to Patil, though the discussions on the survey was “incomplete”, it was “cordial”. Among the issues taken up during the meeting were the population of communities, their backwardness among others, he said. To a question, he said that the concerns raised over the population figures of dominant communities were not part of the discussion.

Vokkaligas and Veershaiva-Lingayats have expressed strong reservations about the survey, calling it “unscientific”, and have demanded that it be rejected, and a fresh survey be conducted.

Though the next Cabinet meeting is scheduled on April 24, the survey report will not be taken up for discussion, Patil said. The meeting will be held at M M Hills and issues pertaining to the Old Mysore region will be discussed.

According to sources, Cabinet ministers have been asked to present their views about the Survey in writing during the May 2 meeting. The Cabinet has also decided to place the facts of the survey before the people to combat misinformation, sources said, adding that the government will also present proof to counter allegations that door-to-door survey was not carried out.

Commissioned in 2015, the survey report was presented before the Cabinet last week. However, before the findings could be made public, it was leaked, drawing criticism from the Opposition and Congress leaders from dominant communities.