The Federal impact | Missing caste census report raises authenticity questions
Now, a letter written by the current chairman of the Backward Classes Commission regarding the missing report has come to light as well
The Federal exposé of the missing original copy of the “socioeconomic and educational survey”, popularly called the “caste census”, has created ripples in political circles and among the general public alike, with the authenticity of the report about to be revealed now being questioned.
The Federal report, “Original caste survey missing; where did it go, and how?”, published on Wednesday (November 22), revealed that the original copy of the report prepared by H Kantharaj, former chairman of the Backward Class Commission, was not found in the commission’s strong room but only the scanned and certified copies were available.
Chairman’s letter
Now, a letter written by the current chairman of the Backward Classes Commission regarding the missing report has come to light as well. In the letter dated October 5, 2021, K Jayaprakash Hegde wrote to the Principal Secretary of the Backward Classes Welfare department, explaining that the original report had gone missing and that the Member Secretary of the Commission had not signed the documents.
“It came to light when the Chairman and present Member Secretary of the government opened the sealed boxes from the security room. We have asked the then Member Secretary to hand over the original report immediately,” he wrote. He had also sought clarification on the action that was needed to be taken in this regard.
The letter written by current chairman of the Backward Classes Commission K Jayaprakash Hegde to the Principal Secretary of the Backward Classes Welfare department, explaining that the original report had gone missing
Trouble for government
The missing report might prove to be a hindrance for the Congress-led Karnataka government to implement the report, as it involves legal issues. It does not augur well for the party that is trying to mobilise OBC votes to fight the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha election.
As discussions hot up in the media and social media, BJP and JD(S) leaders have started questioning the circumstances surrounding the “missing” report and the fresh report being prepared by Hegde based on the copies.
“The fact that the original copy of the survey conducted by the Karnataka government in 2015 for Rs 180 crore is missing and the available report does not have the signature of the Member Secretary is a reflection of the negligence of the Commission officials,” BJP leader Basanagouda Patil Yatnal said.
“It is surprising that the Commission gave a notice to the Private Secretary of the former President and then yielded to political pressure and abandoned the investigation midway,” he added, demanding that the authenticity of the report be ascertained at once and action taken against the negligent official(s).
Siddaramaiah reacts
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, however, said he was not aware of the missing report. “Backward Classes Commission Chairman K Jayaprakash Hegde will meet me and submit the report. He has requested for the expansion of his tenure to submit the report. He may submit the report by December,” he said.
Even in the face of opposition, Siddaramaiah has repeatedly stressed that he was firm on the revelation of the caste census report. At the national level, too, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and AICC chief Mallikarjun Kharge have been demanding a caste census report from the Union government. They have even stated that the Karnataka government will release a caste re-classification report by the Backward Classes Commission soon.
