Caste census will trouble all, not just Lingayats: Bidari

Says clarity can be got only after complete data is out

Davangere: Akhila Bharata Veerashaiva Lingayat Mahasabha state unit president and retired IPS officer Shankar Bidari said the implementation of socio-economic-educational survey, also known as caste census, will cause trouble not only for Veerashaiva-Lingayats but also for SC/STs and other backward classes in the state.

Addressing media persons in Davangere on Monday, Bidari said earlier, the state had around 75 lakh population in the 3B category. But now the survey states 66 lakh population. This shows a decrease of 6.6%. Besides this, the sub-sects of Veerashaiva-Lingayat community have been classified differently. Some sects have been added to the other category. The ministers of the community have drawn the attention of the chief minister in this regard.

When questioned about the census, Bidari said the Mahasabha convened a meeting on the caste census in Bengaluru. “We will get a clarity only after the complete data is out. Later, we will take a call on the survey report after chairing a meeting headed by Akhila Bharata Veerashaiva Lingayat Mahasabha president Shamanur Shivashankarappa.”