Vokkaligas to join hands with Lingayats against release of caste census report

Bengaluru: Rajya Vokkaligara Sangha president B Kenchappa Gowda on Friday said that the community would join hands along with like-minded  communities like Veerashiva-Lingayats and others to oppose the release of the Socio-Economic and Educational Survey, also known as the caste census, in the state.

Speaking to reporters, Gowda said that the Vokkaligas will not keep quiet on this matter as the community seers, elders and leaders alike have opposed the government’s decision on releasing it. 

‘Scientific manner’

He further said that their main contention is that the caste census should be carried out in a scientific manner.

“There are 115 sub-castes in the Vokkaliga community alone. Most of these sub-castes have not prefixed Vokkaliga nomenclature, as a result, our numbers have drastically come down. Moreover, not a single enumerator has come to my house when this survey was conducted. So, this survey is not scientifically done. We will oppose it,” Gowda said.

Fresh survey

Meanwhile, All India Veerashaiva Mahasabha national secretary H M Renuka Prasanna told DH that the association will stick to its earlier demand to carry out fresh surveys.

“We are not opposed to census per se, but it should be done scientifically. We will hold a meeting in a day or two to guide our community leaders and ministers on how to tackle this issue,” he said.