‘By Siddaramaiah, for Siddaramaiah, prepared by Siddaramaiah himself’: Nikhil Kumaraswamy on caste census report

BENGALURU: Janata Dal (Secular) Karnataka Youth President Nikhil Kumaraswamy on Monday attacked the state government and called the caste census report a document “by Siddaramaiah, for Siddaramaiah, and prepared by Siddaramaiah himself.”

Speaking to the media at the party’s state office, JP Bhavan, he said, “Going by the figures allegedly leaked from this report, it’s evident that the report was prepared by Siddaramaiah for his own political gain.”

“There are 7 crore Kannadigas in our state. The surveyors must produce records of how many households they actually visited. Even the house of my father — a former Chief Minister and current Union Minister—was never visited for the survey. Similarly, no one visited my grandfather’s house — a former Prime Minister of this country. There are countless such examples. I have serious doubts about whether the census was conducted at all. It should have been done scientifically, with officials visiting every household. That did not happen,” alleged Nikhil Kumaraswamy.

He further said that the Karnataka CM is conducting a test run in the name of the caste census.

“Some alleged data from the caste census report has already been leaked. Every newspaper and TV channel is publishing it. Who released these figures? Who leaked them? The report hasn’t even been officially released yet, and yet these statistics are floating everywhere. This is unofficial information and speculative data. I believe this is unauthorized data leaked from within the government itself. It seems Siddaramaiah is conducting a ‘test run’ to see how the public reacts,” Nikhil criticized.

Nikhil Kumaraswamy further asserted that the caste census should be for public welfare.

“A caste census should focus on economic, educational, and social equality. But what we see today is a decision made a decade ago — forming the Kantharaju Committee and assigning it the task of conducting the survey. This was not done in the right spirit,” said Nikhil.

He also mentioned that several ministers had expressed dissatisfaction over the report in the Cabinet.

“Until the report is officially released, we cannot debate it. However, a growing concern is whether the Chief Minister is pushing the caste census for his own political survival,” he noted.

The leader said that the census was aimed at appeasing one community and securing his political chair.

“This census is being presented merely to appease one community and secure his (Siddaramaiah’s) political chair. Let them release the full statistics once and for all. If the census lacks transparency and scientific rigor, we will demand a re-evaluation. If the data is truly scientific and transparent, let it be put in the public domain,” he urged.

“The government might be floating these figures as a test run. It’s not just JD(S) — many others are worried. Many communities and spiritual leaders are expressing anxiety and doubt about the authenticity of this data,” he said.

Commenting on the Hubballi incident, where a minor girl was allegedly raped and murdered, Nikhil Kumaraswamy said the encounter of the accused was justified.

“This is a heinous crime, one that brings shame to all humanity. Such incidents keep occurring frequently. I welcome the shootout action taken in the Hubballi case. For the past two years, many such incidents have been taking place. The government must take strict measures to prevent them,” he said.

He also added, “In the past two years of Congress rule, law and order has collapsed. The safety of women, children, and the general public is being neglected. There is a sharp increase in cases of rape, sexual assault, murder, robbery, and violence — creating a climate of fear and insecurity among the people.”

Earlier, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that a special cabinet meeting has been called on April 17 to discuss the Caste Census report.