Veerashaivas, Vokkaligas oppose caste census data

‘Leaked’ figures of the socioeconomic survey project their numbers to be much lower than so far believed

May 27, 2016 12:00 am | Updated 05:41 am IST - BENGALURU:

The communities may be forced to intensify their struggle if the demands are not considered.N. Thippanna,State unit president, Akhila Bharata Veerashaiva Mahasabha

The communities may be forced to intensify their struggle if the demands are not considered.N. Thippanna,State unit president, Akhila Bharata Veerashaiva Mahasabha

Two powerful communities that have historically competed for political supremacy in Karnataka — Veerashaivas and Vokkaligas — have right now found a common cause. What has brought them on one platform is the “leaked” data of socioeconomic survey (caste census) that projects their numbers to be much lower than so far believed.

Akhila Bharata Veerashaiva Mahasabha and Rajya Vokkaligara Okkoota, who have dubbed the survey “unscientific” and “incomplete”, have submitted joint petitions to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Social Welfare Minister H. Anjaneya and the Karnataka Backward Classes Commission demanding that an expert committee consisting all caste groups be set up to discuss the survey data before it is released.

The unauthorised data of the census, leaked on social media groups, has put the Veerashaiva population at 9.8 per cent of the Karnataka population and Vokkaligas at 8.16 per cent. This is significantly lower than the earlier estimates of 17 per cent 12 per cent, respectively. While the official data is yet to be submitted to the government, the numbers projected in the “leaked” data have since created a stir in the two communities given the possible political ramifications.

‘Deliberately omitted’

Both the organisations have argued that some sub-castes of both communities have “deliberately been omitted” to play down their numbers and “break them up into splinters.” The Siddaramaiah-led government, the two community organisations have alleged, is “against certain castes” and that the data corroborates this.

Okkoota president M.R. Venkatesh told The Hindu that Vokkaligas and Veerashaivas, constant rivals in the political arena, are together on this issue being “samana dukkhi” (equals in sorrow). “We have appealed to Ministers representing our communities to oppose the census report if it is tabled in the Cabinet,” said Mr. Venkatesh, hinting at a possible churning it could create within the Congress.

N. Thippanna, mahasabha State unit president, said the two communities may be “forced to intensify their struggle” if their demands are not considered.

This consolidation of the two dominant castes of Karnataka is being viewed with suspicion by Dalit groups. “We have seen powerful feudal castes banding together in earlier occasions when their dominance is questioned. We had seen attempts like this in the past, for instance, during the height of Mandal agitation. We are seeing this again,” said Mavalli Shankar, chief convener of the Dalit Sangharsha Samiti (Ambedkarwada). “It is happening, we should note, when even the smallest of lower castes are raising their voice to assert their rights.”

Karnataka State Backward Classes Commission Chairperson H. Kantharaj, meanwhile, insisted that the census was conducted “strictly as per procedure.” He said that while “people are free to have opinion,” they should wait until authentic data is released to draw any conclusion.

Mr. Kantharaj said the entire data will be put together by the end of this month and submitted to the government before the end of June.

The communities may be forced to intensify their struggle if the demands are not considered.

N. Thippanna,State unit president, Akhila Bharata Veerashaiva Mahasabha

Numbers of both Vokkaligas and Veerashaivas have been deliberately underplayed.

M.R. Venkatesh,president, Rajya Vokkaligara Okkoota

Census was held as per procedure. People should wait until authentic data is released.

H. Kantharaj,Chairperson, Karnataka State Backward Classes Commission

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