Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah clarified on Saturday that the column representing Christian sub-castes has been removed from the caste survey. He accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of politicizing the issue. Speaking to reporters in the capital Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah addressed the confusion about the column for Christian sub-castes, stating, 'It has now been removed.'
He further clarified, 'I did not remove it. The Backward Classes Commission is a statutory body. We cannot interfere or direct it. We have issued guidelines and have asked the Backward Classes Commission to work accordingly.' The Chief Minister revealed that Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot had sent him a letter from BJP leaders. He said, 'I have seen the letter. The BJP is doing this for political reasons. Should I keep responding to them repeatedly?'
In the letter, the Governor mentioned that the caste survey could lead to 'social unrest, long-term complexities, and irreparable damage to the social fabric of the state.' He urged the Chief Minister to reconsider the issue. Responding to BJP's accusation that Congress is dividing Hindus into castes, Siddaramaiah retorted, 'When did we divide people into castes? The government needs to understand people's socio-educational and economic conditions. How can we formulate policies for you without this knowledge?'
In light of Panchamasali Jagadguru Vachananda Swamiji's claim of conspiracy regarding the survey, Siddaramaiah questioned, 'Would the central government’s caste census also be regarded as a conspiracy? The caste census was stopped in 1931. Now the center says it will undertake it in 2028. Would this be a conspiracy too?' When asked about some ministers objecting to the caste survey in the Cabinet meeting, the Chief Minister replied, 'There was no opposition to the caste survey anywhere. Everyone has consented to it.'
He emphasized that this is not just a caste survey but a socio-economic, educational, and 'employment' survey aimed at bringing equality in society. Siddaramaiah said, 'This survey will identify those who are deprived of opportunities. If we aim to bring equality in society, shouldn’t we give priority to the economically weak and those deprived of opportunities?' The Chief Minister explained that 1.75 lakh teachers have been appointed for this task. A teacher will survey 120 to 150 houses in 15 days. The survey, conducted from September 22 to October 7, is estimated to cost 420 crore rupees.
