Two powerful communities in Karnataka, the Lingayats and Vokkaligas, are upset with the Congress government over a recent caste census report. They feel this report makes them politically weak. The government, led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, is facing pressure from both its members and outside groups because many lawmakers disagree with the findings of the caste survey.
On April 17, the Cabinet will hold a special meeting to talk about the report. This meeting could change the future of these communities. Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, who is from the Vokkaliga community, is meeting with other Vokkaliga lawmakers to get their views before the meeting. He wants to know how to best represent their interests.
Meanwhile, Laxmi Hebbalkar, a Lingayat minister, has called for another survey to check the community numbers because she disagrees with the current findings. The Vokkaligara Sangha, an important group for Vokkaligas, has plans to rally across the state after April 17, even threatening to bring down the Congress government if the census is put into action.
The Veerashaiva Mahasabha, which looks after the Lingayat community, wants to hire a retired judge to create a new report that better represents their numbers. Lingayat and Vokkaliga community leaders plan to meet together in Bengaluru soon.
The caste census report shows a big shift in community numbers, stating that Muslims are now the largest group. Industries Minister MB Patil, a key Lingayat figure, insists there are more than 10 million Lingayats in Karnataka, which is much higher than what the report says. Many in his community have claimed different categories to keep their reservation benefits.
Various influential leaders in religious institutions are also against the report, calling it flawed. The BJP and RSS political parties have long been wary of caste surveys, fearing it could divide Hindu society. BJP’s N Ravi Kumar has called for a special meeting to discuss the caste census report.
Category: Politics
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Lingayats and Vokkaligas Gear Up for Caste Census Showdown!
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BJP’s Bansuri Swaraj Granted Time to Reply to Satyendar Jain’s Defamation Case
A court in Delhi has given BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj four weeks to respond to accusations made by AAP leader Satyendar Jain. Jain is asking for Swaraj to be punished for allegedly making false statements about him. He filed a complaint after a trial court did not accept his case against her.
The judge, Jitendra Singh, allowed Swaraj more time to answer Jain’s claims and set the next hearing for May 14. Earlier, on February 20, the lower court dismissed Jain’s complaint, mentioning it did not find enough evidence to act upon it.
Jain’s complaint states that Swaraj made harmful comments about him during a TV interview on October 5, 2023, which many people watched. He claims she falsely stated that Rs 3 crore, 1.8 kilograms of gold, and 133 gold coins were found in his home. Jain believes these comments were meant to hurt his reputation and give Swaraj an unfair advantage in politics. He also says Swaraj called him corrupt and a fraud. -
Murshidabad Violence: BJP Blames Mamata as Tensions Rise
There has been a lot of unrest in Murshidabad, West Bengal, due to recent violence. BJP MP Sukanta Majumdar accused Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of threatening Hindus and trying to create a situation like Bangladesh right here in India. He criticized the police for not taking action, saying they are doing nothing because they are following Mamata’s orders.
Majumdar, who is also the West Bengal BJP president, mentioned they are communicating with officials in Delhi about the situation. He claimed the situation is serious, with reports of looting and abuse of Hindu women. According to him, there might be a need for help from the central government as the situation continues to worsen. He said that Home Minister Amit Shah is aware of what is happening.
Meanwhile, the West Bengal police announced that they have brought the situation under control in the Suti and Samserganj areas of Jangipur, Murshidabad. They said they used effective police action to disperse a violent mob that emerged during protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act. The police shared on social media that traffic is back to normal, and they will take strict action against people who engage in violence. They also warned against spreading rumors and urged everyone to stay calm. Security measures are increased in Jangipur because the violent protests caused damage to public property. However, the situation is now stable. -
BJP Launches Campaign to Clarify Waqf Act Benefits for Muslims
The BJP, a political party in India, is starting a two-week campaign to inform people, especially Muslims, about the Waqf (Amendment) Act. This campaign will run from April 20. BJP President JP Nadda and Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju will talk to party members about the benefits of the law. Many party leaders from across the country attended a workshop where they were told that the opposition parties are misleading Muslims about this law for votes.
Nadda mentioned that the government wants to help “pasmanda” (backward) Muslims and women by giving them a say in how Waqf properties are managed. He believes that the new law, which started on April 8, will allow Waqf properties to be used to help poor Muslims and women. This way, these properties will be managed more openly and fairly, rather than by a select few people.
The BJP leaders said that the new law does not take away Muslims’ rights to manage their religious matters. They explained that having non-Muslims on the Waqf Council and boards is just about managing properties, not about religion. The party plans to hold press meetings and discussions with Muslim community members. They have also prepared answers to common questions (in Urdu, too) to tackle criticisms of the law from some Muslim groups and opposition parties, who claim it is unconstitutional and takes away Muslim rights.
Key BJP leaders, including Radha Mohan Das Agrawal and Jamal Siddiqui, will lead this campaign, which will go on until May 5. Meanwhile, some Muslim organizations and opposition leaders have gone to the Supreme Court to challenge the law’s constitutionality, and the court will hear the case on April 16.