Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday clarified that the caste survey has removed the column depicting the Christian sub-castes. He accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of politicizing the issue. Talking to reporters in the capital Bangalore, Siddaramaiah said on the confusion related to the column showing the Christian sub-castes, “Now it has been removed.”
He further clarified, ‘I did not remove this. The Backward Classes Commission is a statutory body. We cannot interfere in this nor can we instruct it. We have released guidelines and asked the Backward Classes Commission to work accordingly. The Chief Minister said that Governor Thawarchand Gehlot has sent a letter given to him by BJP leaders. He said, ‘I have seen the letter. The BJP is doing this for political reasons. Should I keep answering the BJP again and again? ‘
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The Governor mentioned in his letter that the caste survey could cause ‘social unrest, long-term complexities and irreparable damage to the state’s social fabric. He had asked the Chief Minister to reconsider the issue. On the BJP’s allegation that the Congress is dividing Hindus among castes, Siddaramaiah replied, ‘When are we dividing it among the castes? The government should know the socio-educational and economic status of the people. Without this, how can we make policies for you? ‘
On Panchamasali Jagadguru Vadanand Swamiji calling the survey a conspiracy, Siddaramaiah said, “Will the Center also consider to be a conspiracy by the Center to do a caste census?” Caste census was closed in 1931. Now the Center is saying that it will do caste census in 2028. Will it also be called a conspiracy? ‘ On the question of some ministers opposing caste survey in the cabinet meeting, the Chief Minister said, ‘No caste survey was opposed anywhere. Everyone has agreed to this.
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He stressed that it is not only a caste survey, but also socio-economic, educational and ’employment’ survey, which aims to bring equality in society. Siddaramaiah said, ‘This survey will identify those who are deprived of opportunities. If equality is to be brought in society, should we not give priority to the financially weak and deprived people? ‘ The Chief Minister said that 1.75 lakh teachers have been appointed for this work. A teacher will survey 120 to 150 houses in 15 days. The estimated expenditure of this survey, which runs from 22 September to 7 October, is Rs 420 crore.
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