The protest will begin at 11 AM

A rally would commence from the Ambedkar Centre

More than 3000 students are anticipated to participate in the rally

Bengaluru University students will hold a protest at the Jnanabharathi Campus demanding the release of data pertaining to the Caste Census prepared by the Kantharaj Commission. The protest will begin at 11 AM on January 10th.  A rally would commence from the Ambedkar Centre and proceed towards the Central Office. More than 3000 students are anticipated to participate in the rally.

BJP State President BY Vijayendra had earlier claimed that the caste census and recommendations of the Kanthiraj Commission was  unscientific. He questioned the government over their lack of initiative in releasing the findings. He stated that it consisted of multiple mistakes and was not thoroughly prepared. “The report is scripted as per the directives of the CM. The then Congress government spent Rs 150 crore on the Kantharaj report,” he had stated. 

He pointed out that visitations were not made to the houses of the people of the state and the report was a result of armchair intellectualism. He also levied a charge on the Congress that the report was an instrument to divide the Lingayat community similar to 2018. In 2018, the Siddaramaiah government approved a separate religion status for Lingayats. 

Opposition to the release of the Caste Census data has also come from factions within the congress with Vokkaliga and Lingayat leaders such as DK Shivakumar and MB Patil putting across their reservation.