Does the K'taka government aim to finalize the caste census?

Bengaluru, June 14 (NationPress) The BJP has accused the Karnataka government of lacking the intention to advance the caste census issue to its logical conclusion, insisting that the government must first articulate a definitive position on this matter.

Recently, the state government initiated a new caste census survey, following directives from the Congress leadership.

During a media briefing in Bengaluru on Saturday, state BJP President B.Y. Vijayendra remarked, “Initially, the state administration should clarify its stance on the caste census issue.”

“Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced the caste survey amid a backdrop of public unrest due to statewide protests against his governance,” he asserted.

“CM Siddaramaiah had previously stated that the caste census report would be executed within a specific timeframe and in a single Cabinet meeting. Numerous Cabinet sessions have occurred since, yet the report remains unaddressed. This method is unscientific and should not be expedited. A decade has gone by, and all aspects have already been debated,” Vijayendra continued.

He noted that even members of the ruling party have voiced their discontent with this initiative.

“Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and several Cabinet members have publicly opposed this action. Now, all of a sudden, CM Siddaramaiah seems to have gained new insight. The caste census topic has merely been revived to distract from the tragic stampede incident on June 4, which resulted in 11 fatalities during the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) celebration,” he claimed.

“Ultimately, the state administration will likely achieve nothing with this. The Central government has already laid out plans for both the general census and the caste census. There’s uncertainty regarding whether the caste census falls within the state’s jurisdiction,” he pointed out.

Commenting on CM Siddaramaiah's attendance at the 16th Finance Commission meeting, Vijayendra stated, “I commend CM Siddaramaiah for the courage shown in attending the meeting and advocating for the state's interests. The BJP has long endorsed this initiative. Why was CM Siddaramaiah reluctant to present the case before? We've even questioned whether he considers himself the Chief Minister of the Congress or of the state.”

“What explains his current conduct? While it is commendable that he finally attended the meeting, in New Delhi, he seems to be desperately shifting blame onto the Centre. He has not secured funding for guarantee schemes, and development in the state has stalled. His claims, such as ‘Karnataka contributes Rs 100 and receives only Rs 13 back from the Centre,’ are misleading. He is only sharing part of the truth. The funds from the central government remain unutilized,” Vijayendra alleged.

Discussing the deployment of the Special Action Force (SAF) in Mangaluru, he said, “We recently visited Mangaluru district and met with the Police Commissioner, the SP, and the Deputy Commissioner. This is not an SAF unit but rather a Communal Violence Control Force. It is a conspiracy aimed at targeting Hindu activists, organizations, and BJP members.”