Former Minister and Congress leader B. Ramanath Rai on Friday, April 18, maintained that State government’s move to implement the ‘Caste Census’ report was in line with party’s policy of eliminating inequality in society.
Speaking to reporters here, Mr. Rai said Congress’ poll manifesto had promised to implement the report and the Opposition parties were not right in objecting to the implementation.
He said efforts were on to implement the report submitted by the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes headed by H. Kantharaj and later by K. Jayaprakash Hegde. If there were any shortcoming in the data collected, the same could be rectified; however outright demand for its non-implementation was not correct, Mr. Rai maintained.
The former Minister said Mr. Hegde was appointed the Chairman of the Commission by the BJP. He has already clarified about the allegation about data collection. Implementation of the report was essential to render justice to backward classes, he said.
Mr. Rai noted that the Opposition parties had objected to the introduction of the Panchayat Raj Act through the 73rd amendment to the Constitution in 1993 by Late Rajiv Gandhi as the Prime Minister. There were objections for the Land reforms Act, the Bonded Labour System, Bank Nationalisation etc. However, the Congress implemented them to empower the backward classes, he maintained.
Asked about objections by some Ministers for the implementation of the report, Mr. Rai said no one is above the party. Even a committee was formed to provide internal reservation for SC/STs and let there be a discussion on that issue too.
Published - April 18, 2025 07:02 pm IST
