Caste Survey Report To Be Taken Up By Cabinet Today

No final decision will be taken in Thursday's meeting. The CM is not in a hurry... BASAVARAJ RAYARADDI, Siddaramaiah's economic adviser

- Naheed Ataulla

BENGALURU: The Karnataka cabinet, chaired by chief minister Siddaramaiah, will take up the socio-economic and education survey, popularly known as caste census report, for deliberation during a special meeting scheduled to be held in Bengaluru on Thursday.

People familiar with the matter said the meeting will be held in the afternoon as the Congress has organised a protest meeting against the Centre's over the rising prices of fuel and essential commodities and also to counter the BJP's Jan Aakrosh (people's anger) rally on the Congress government hiking the milk, water and power rates.

Siddaramaiah's economic adviser Basavaraj Rayaraddi said: "No final decision will be taken in Thursday's meeting. The CM is not in a hurry, he will buy time to study and implement the report."

"The way developments are happening, indications are the chief minister will accept the report and is prepared for its fallout," a confidant of the CM said.

The Vokkaliga community has expressed its discontent over the report in a meeting convened by deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar on Tuesday, during which it warned of a state-wide agitation by enlisting the support of the Veerashaiva-Lingayats and Brahmins. The All India Veerashaiva Mahasabha headed by senior Congress MLA Shamnur Shivashankarappa has called a meeting of all its community ministers and legislators on Thursday at 9 am.

He opposed the report saying: "Whether those heading the government can continue their reign, facing opposition from Veershaiva-Lingayats and Vokkaligas. My community is upset that it has been split into Veerashaiva Lingayat and Lingayat to undermine their importance."