Caste census, massive protest from communities

Raichur

Leaders of the Veerashaiva and Lingayat communities held a massive protest rally in the city on Monday, alleging that an unscientific caste census has been conducted in the state and that a conspiracy is being hatched to weaken the strength of Veerashaiva and Lingayat communities and divide the society based on population.

The leaders held a protest meeting near Harshita Garden near Renukacharya Circle on the city's bypass road, wearing black bands on their heads. They then marched to the new district administration office, holding banners and shouting slogans against the government, before reaching the district collector's office.

The leaders demanded that the survey report submitted to the Jayaprakash Hegde government in 2024 should not be accepted, changing the data from the 2015 Kantaraju report.

The Chinnappa Reddy Commission identified 61 sub-castes of the Veerashaiva community, which constitute 17 percent of the population. They expressed dissatisfaction that the fact that it has come down to 11 percent shows an error in the survey.

The names of almost all sub-tribes, including Veerashaiva and Lingayat sub-tribes, are in categories 3B, 2A, 1, 1A and 1B. They complained that there has been no increase in similar sects in the category either.

Later, a petition was submitted to the Deputy Commissioner, led by the district's Mutt Chief. MLAs, and social organization leaders.

MLA Dr Shivaraj Patil, MLC Basanagowda Badarli. Sharanagowda Bayyapur, former Minister Venkatarao Nadagouda, former MLA Basanagowda Byagawata, Veerashaiva Lingayat Samaj district unit President Sharanabhupal Nadagouda. All India Veerashaiva Lingayat Mahasabha District Unit President Chandrashekar Patil Mirzapur, Basava Kendra President Rachanagowda Kolura, Veerashaiva Rudrasena district unit president Shivasharan Reddy. Heads of Maths and Veerashaiva and Lingayat Samaj leaders participated.