Bengaluru, April 15 (NationPress) Karnataka BJP leader R. Ashoka has criticized Chief Minister Siddaramaiah regarding the caste census report, asserting that the party will strongly oppose his utilization of the marginalised communities as political pawns.

The Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly, Ashoka, stated on Tuesday, "...Chief Minister Siddaramaiah appears to strategically present the caste census report as a distraction whenever his position is at risk. This manipulative tactic is no longer concealed."

"During the recent AICC plenary session in Delhi, CM Siddaramaiah experienced a significant setback. The high command reprimanded his faction over multiple government failures, including the honeytrap scandal. Consequently, there is a rising speculation within Congress circles that Siddaramaiah has suddenly started promoting the caste census agenda. As I’ve previously mentioned, our party supports any legitimate efforts made for the upliftment of backward communities in our society."

"Nonetheless, we strongly oppose the use of marginalised communities as tools in a political contest whenever someone falters in the snakes-and-ladders of politics or stumbles in the chessboard of power," he emphasized.

"The Kantharaj Commission report is broadly regarded as unscientific, incomplete, inaccurate, and irrelevant. There are numerous reasons for this. In this context, I am posing several crucial questions to CM Siddaramaiah on behalf of the people of the state," Ashoka stated.

Ashoka's inquiries include: "There are doubts that the Commission Secretary did not endorse the caste census report. Is this accurate? If so, why was it not endorsed?"

"Jayaprakash Hegde, former chairperson of the Permanent Backward Classes Commission, mentioned that the original or handwritten copy kept in a sealed box is missing. What is the truth behind this?"

"If you were genuinely dedicated to the caste census, why didn’t you accept and implement the Kantharaj report in 2018?"

"There are allegations that the caste census conducted a decade ago was not performed scientifically, with many households overlooked. Given this, why is there such a sudden urgency to present this report now?"

"What is your response to the assertion that this decade-old survey is no longer pertinent in the current context?"

The LoP has demanded responses to his questions from the Congress government.

Ashoka remarked, "The Veerashaiva-Lingayat community has submitted a request against accepting this unscientific caste census report. Notably, the Deputy Chief Minister and KPCC President D.K. Shivakumar himself has endorsed this request. Even senior leaders from your own party, such as Shamanur Shivashankarappa, have opposed it. Numerous pontiffs and religious leaders have also expressed their dissent. In light of this, why didn’t the government consult everyone and strive for a consensus over the past 22 months? Why present the report to the cabinet abruptly?"

"Is the caste census report being tactically utilized to postpone or evade the power-sharing agreement allegedly established with Dy CM D.K. Shivakumar?" Ashoka questioned.

"There are rumors within the Congress party that you’ve launched this 'caste census arrow' to corner Dy CM D.K. Shivakumar. What is your response to this?" Ashoka queried CM Siddaramaiah.

"Isn’t using the caste census as a political weapon a disservice to Dalits, backward classes, and marginalised communities? Isn’t leveraging the sacred concept of social justice for political advantage a betrayal of conscience?" Ashoka charged.

"How did the caste census data leak to the media? Was it a government oversight, or was the information intentionally leaked?" Ashoka inquired.

"Sub-castes within the Veerashaiva-Lingayat and Vokkaliga communities have been delineated. Why wasn’t this same methodology applied to Muslim and Christian communities? What is the intention behind this? What is your resistance to conducting a new, scientific survey that would be acceptable to all?" Ashoka questioned.

"These are the apprehensions and uncertainties the people of the state harbor regarding the Kantharaj report. I implore CM Siddaramaiah to prioritize honesty and transparency over personal pride and self-interest," he concluded.