AHINDA groups launch letter campaign, urge Rahul Gandhi to caution Congress legislators opposing caste census report in Karnataka

AHINDA groups launch letter campaign.

AHINDA groups have launched a campaign of writing letters to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi urging him to caution party legislators in Karnataka from opposing implementation of the report of the Socio Economic and Educational Survey, popularly called ‘caste census’. The survey was conducted by the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes.

Under the aegis of Karnataka State Backward Classes Awareness Forum, the AHINDA groups have sent letters to Mr. Gandhi, who is also Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, through e-mail and post cards as part of the campaign, seeking his intervention in the matter.

In its letter to Mr. Gandhi, the forum pointed out that the primary objective of the survey was to understand the socio-economic and educational condition of all communities through statistical data to ensure social justice for all. The survey, which was conducted scientifically at a cost of approximately ₹180 crore, reflecting Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s social commitment and concern for the oppressed sections, has been presented and discussed in the Cabinet.

“However, it is deeply saddening that senior Congress MLAs, such as Shamanur Shivashankarappa and a few others, are opposing this report. Moreover, these MLAs and some leaders have made extremely derogatory statements about the report and AHINDA (an acronym for minorities, backward classes and Dalits),” the letter states.

“They are demanding that the report be discarded entirely, causing great distress among all the AHINDA sections,” the forum pointed out.

The report consolidates statistical data not only on the population, but also on the social, economic and educational status of AHINDA communities, the letter states while adding that the caste census report has recommended categorisation of reservation while also increasing reservation for various sections.

“Based on the statistics in this report, the government will be able to provide political, social and educational representation to the AHINDA communities. However, it is truly unfortunate that some Congress MLAs are opposing this,” the letter states.