Bengaluru, April 14 -- Karnatka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Sunday said that communities were trying to protect their interests in view of the caste census, and there was nothing wrong with that.

"Veerashaiva Mahasabha is trying to protect its community's interests, why should we criticise them? They can put forward their stand as per the Constitutional provisions," he said while referring to the criticism of the caste census by Shamanur Shivashankarappa. He was replying to a question on Veerashaiva Mahasabha forming an experts' committee to study the caste census.

"The Chief Minister has informed that a discussion would be allowed on the caste census in the Legislative Assembly. It is very transparent; what else can be done?...