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A leaked copy of Karnataka’s caste census report has sparked political uproar.

 

The Congress-led government stands accused of manipulating data to favour minority communities. The Bharatiya Janata Party has strongly criticised the Siddaramaiah-led administration, claiming the figures were tweaked for appeasement.

 

The leaked document suggests a steep increase in reservations. It proposes raising OBC quotas from 32 per cent to 51 per cent, and Muslim quotas from 4 per cent to 8 per cent. The report, now referred to as the Socioeconomic and Educational Survey, was submitted to the cabinet last Friday.

 

Ministers received copies over the weekend. A special cabinet meeting is scheduled for 17 April to discuss the findings. The timing of the leak has added to the controversy.

 

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The report has upset several communities. Senior Congress leader Shamanur Shivashankarappa called it “unscientific”. He said no one from the survey team had visited his home. The report does not provide exact population figures for dominant castes like Vokkaligas and Lingayats. Instead, it groups them into broader categories.

 

Category III(A), which includes Vokkaligas, shows a population of 73 lakh and recommends a 7 per cent quota. Category III(B), which includes Lingayats and five other groups, lists 81.3 lakh people, recommending an 8 per cent quota. The total population is put at 5.9 crore.

 

If accepted, the suggestions would take Karnataka’s total reservation to 73.5 per cent. This far exceeds the 50 per cent cap imposed by the Supreme Court.

 

Minister MB Patil acknowledged irregularities. He said many Lingayat sub-castes had listed themselves under different names to gain benefits under the existing 2A category. If all Lingayat groups are counted together, their number could exceed 1 crore, he claimed.

 

The report states that Muslims made up 12.6 per cent of the population in 2015, when the survey was conducted.

 

The BJP called the report politically motivated. Opposition leader R Ashoka said, “The CM dictated the numbers. This is minority appeasement.”

 

Deputy CM DK Shivakumar responded carefully. He said all communities had the right to voice concerns. “We will not rush. The matter will be discussed in the cabinet. MLAs will also debate it in the assembly,” he said.

 

He also dismissed underrepresentation claims. “Justice will be delivered to all,” he added.