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Journalism of Courage
With the Karnataka government extending the tenure of the chairman of the Karnataka State Backward Classes Commission, K Jayaprakash Hegde, by another 15 days, it seems that the state government is not ready yet to accept the findings of the socio-economic and educational survey, popularly referred to as the caste survey.
Hegde’s tenure, it can be recalled, had ended in November last year but the government had extended it till the end of January. This is the second extension for the Commission to submit the report. The report is opposed by the dominant communities such as the Vokkaligas and the Lingayats who term it as “unscientific”.
Sources in the Chief Minister’s Office and Commission said that “oral instructions” were issued to extend the tenure of the Commission. Official orders affecting the extension were expected on Wednesday, January 31.
The development came at a time when JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy dared the government to accept the report. “You are blaming others for not accepting the report. You have been in power for almost a year now. Why haven’t you accepted the report? Who is preventing you? If you have the courage, accept the report and implement it,” Kumaraswamy said Tuesday.
Earlier on Sunday, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had assured a convention of oppressed communities that the government would “definitely accept the report”, noting that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi too has announced a nationwide caste census if the party is voted to power.
In November, the state government had extended the tenure of the chairman of the commission amid strong opposition by the dominant Vokkaliga and Lingayat communities over accepting the report. Associations of both the communities had resolved to reject the report.
Siddaramaiah had said that some “were opposing the report without reading or understanding it”.
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