'State govt must reject': V Somanna slams CM Siddaramaiah over caste census report

Mangaluru: "State government must reject the caste census report. If necessary, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah can conduct a fresh caste census in the next one and a half years and implement that report," Union Minister of State for Railways V Somanna said on Saturday.

Somanna said, "Siddaramaiah is creating a confusing atmosphere by implementing the caste census report just to retain his seat. He is not greater than late Devaraj Urs.

"The current caste census report is completely fabricated. It has been drafted as per their whims and fancies while sitting in isolation. If this report is implemented, it will cause injustice to lakhs of families. There is no need to commit such a grave mistake. Implementing this report will not earn him any respect."

There was no need to implement this report. Most ministers in the state cabinet themselves say they don’t know the purpose of implementing it," he added. "You create a corrupt system and go around claiming that you are a good person. On the other hand, you make decisions that contradict the image. You cannot fool people for too long. Don’t commit such mistakes and become a villain among the public," he warned.

Responding to the viral audio on social media that allegedly contains threats to MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, Somanna said, "There is no greater sin than this. No one has the right to take another person’s life. The government must take action against those who issued such threats."