Not against caste census, but it should be conducted scientifically, says DCM Shivakumar

DK Shivakumar clarified that he had never expressed opposition to the caste census but was only demanding a scientific and systematic approach for the census.

Published on: Dec 13, 2023, 08:28:17 IST

ANIPosted by Yamini C S

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Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Tuesday clarified that he had never expressed opposition to the caste census but was only demanding a scientific and systematic approach for the census.

Speaking to reporters outside Suvarna Soudha, he said, "Several legislators have complained that the caste census wasn't done scientifically. There have been complaints that door-to-door survey wasn't done during the caste census. It is only appropriate that all communities get a true representation of their population in the census so that they get proportional benefits."

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"We are only asking if the survey has been done in a scientific manner. I believe in social and economic surveys and I stand by the Congress party's philosophy of social justice for all communities. I am also a backward class leader but as the President of the Party it is my duty to look at all communities with the same lens," he said, responding to a reporter who raised the point of AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge stating in Rajya Sabha that BJP and D K Shivakumar were opposed to the caste census.

Asked about missing documents of the caste census, he said he was not aware of it. "I have spoken to Jayaprakash Hegde and I am told that the caste census report doesn't have the signature of the Secretary. Lack of signature from the authorised persons raises the question of the validity of the census report," he added.

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Asked if the comments of the former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy that an influential Congress minister along with 50-60 MLAs would join BJP post general elections were pointing to him, Shivakumar said, “I am born Congressman. I am not crazy to go to another party. I have my own ideals and I have great belief in the Gandhi family and Congress party. Kumaraswamy is floating around rumours but I am not worried about it.”

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Yamini C S
Yamini CS is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with nearly six years of experience in digital journalism. She is part of the India News desk, where she works on a wide range of stories cutting across civic issues, city-based developments, politics, governance, public policy, breaking news, trending topics, and international affairs that have an impact on India. Her role involves tracking fast-moving developments, verifying information from official and on-ground sources, and presenting news in a clear, accessible format for a digital-first audience. A significant part of her work includes handling live blogs during major news events, such as elections, court verdicts, political developments, civic disruptions, protests, weather-related alerts, and unfolding national or international incidents. Through live coverage, she focuses on timely updates to help readers follow complex stories as they evolve. Before moving to the broader India News desk, Yamini was associated with the Bengaluru desk at Hindustan Times, where she extensively covered urban governance, infrastructure, traffic and transport issues, weather events, public grievances, and civic administration in the city. This experience strengthened her grounding in city reporting and sharpened her focus on citizen-centric journalism. She began her career as a correspondent with Reuters after completing a postgraduate diploma in journalism from the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media. Her early training instilled a strong emphasis on accuracy, sourcing, and news ethics, which continue to shape her reporting style. Outside of work, Yamini enjoys reading across genres, listening to music, and spending time with her family, which help her maintain balance in a fast-paced newsroom environment.Read More

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