Committed to implement caste survey report: CM

Chief minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said that the caste census report conducted in Karnataka was based on scientific methodology and would be implemented without fail.

- HT Correspondent [e-mail]

BENGALURU:

Addressing a pre-budget meeting at Vidhana Soudha with leaders and representatives of backward-class organizations, Siddaramaiah dismissed any doubts regarding its execution.

"Our government has accepted the caste census report, and we will certainly implement it. There should be no uncertainty about this," he said in response to a unanimous demand from attendees urging the government to act on the findings of the long-delayed report.

During the meeting, there were also demands for an increase in reservation quotas similar to Tamil Nadu's model, where quotas exceed 50%. However, Siddaramaiah cited the 1992 Indira Sawhney case, which placed a cap on reservations beyond 50%, and pointed out that the previous BJP-led government's decision to introduce reservations under the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) category contradicted constitutional principles. "As per Articles 15 and 16 of the Constitution, reservations must be granted only to socially and educationally backward sections," he said.