New Delhi: Facing severe criticism over the death of several people in Chinnaswamy Stadium stampede, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy DK Shivakumar on Tuesday met Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and discussions were held on caste census and the June 4 incident.
The Karnataka leadership was summoned by the party top brass in the national capital, which was also attended by Karnataka incharge Randeep Singh Surjewala and Congress general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal.
The meeting at party’s new headquarters Indira Bhawan lasted for over three hours in which the leadership gave several instructions.
The meeting also comesmin the wake of the possible reshuffling in the southern state, where it completed two years in office.
After the meeting, Venugopal said, “The party high command held a detailed discussion with the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister on multiple pressing issues, including the caste census and the recent RCB stampede incident in Bengaluru.”
He said that the high command has directed the state government to give in-principal approval for the caste census based on the Kantharaju Commission report.
He also said that concerns raised by several prominent communities over the outdated nature of the report—based on 10-year-old data—were also acknowledged.
“The party has suggested that a re-enumeration be conducted within the stipulated timeline,” Venugopal said.
He also noted that the meeting also deliberated on the RCB felicitation stampede and reiterated that the “Congress is a party that prioritizes human life above all”.
He noted that the state government has already ordered a judicial inquiry into the incident and clarified that the party will not interfere as the process is underway.
“However, the high command has directed the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister to adopt a pro-people approach and handle the issue with utmost sensitivity,” Venugopal said.
He also stated that the meeting also touched upon the Centre-State relations, with concerns raised about the Union government’s continued neglect and marginalization of Karnataka’s interests.
Meanwhile, Shivakumar said that today we had a detailed meeting with Kharge and Rahul Gandhi here and we discussed the political developments in Karnataka and the stampede incident.
“Also the caste census issue was discussed,” the Deputy Chief Minister said.
He asserted that “basically we have been fully aware that our agenda is to see that all section of society is protected and backward class need to be accepted without any complications”.
He also pointed out that there was some problem on the number of castes which has been declared.
“So we will give an opportunity and party has directed my Chief Minister and us to see them. We will give an opportunity of 60 or 90 days to everyone and the Chief Minister will announce a date, we doesn’t want to leave anyone. A lot of officials will be involved in the process,” Shivakumar, who is also the Karnataka unit chief said.
He emphasised that Karnataka will have a “very transparent model” on the caste census.
While speaking about the reservation of backward class, he said, “Whatever the government and Congress decides we will go by that.”
When asked about demands of accountability and if there was any discussion on that over Chinnaswamy Stadium stampede on June 4, he said, “There was a discussion, there was a guidance, party was very concerned on deaths and on this issue. We have been guided and we are saddened by the incident.”
To another question on the possible reshuffling in the cabinet, he said, “No discussion on any other mater and either on reshuffle.”
However, Congress sources indicated that the party is planning to have a reshuffling in the cabinet in the coming months.