Caste census row: CM says there will be no postponement after meeting with Congress leaders

BENGALURU: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday put an end to all speculations regarding the caste survey, which has stirred a storm in the state, insisting that the exercise will proceed as scheduled from September 22, without any postponement, after high-voltage meeting today.

The CM asserted that the Backward Classes Commission is a constitutional body and it’s not possible to give directions to it. He also accused the BJP of playing politics over the caste census issue and instructed all ministers to counter the opposition’s moves. Though the caste survey could be challenging, the CM is firm about conducting the exercise.

There has been opposition from the upper castes to the survey and therefore, the CM has decided to take cautious steps in the future. The Congress party, which had declared that the Karnataka model of caste census should be implemented nationwide, is now finding itself in the centre of a controversy with the opposition alleging that the Congress government was bent on dividing Hindu society.

Veerashaiva-Lingayat groups have also expressed opposition to the various categories mentioned in the survey. But, if the caste census is not conducted, it could lead to embarrassment for the Congress party at the national level.

Rahul Gandhi himself had stated that the ‘Karnataka model’ of caste census should be implemented nationwide. The Congress party had also made a promise of a national caste census in its Lok Sabha election manifesto. Now, the Karnataka’s caste census has become a bone of contention.

The Congress high command’s intervention had previously sidetracked the caste census issue. If the caste census doesn’t happen in Karnataka, it could lead to loss of face for the Congress party at the national level. The state government, which had announced the caste census, is now in a tight spot.

There’s increasing curiosity about whether the Congress high command will intervene in the caste census issue this time around. The state government has left two options being considered: dropping the 331 new castes and backtracking on the decision to allow new additions to the religion and caste lists, or postponing the survey for some time due to widespread opposition and resuming it after resolving the issue.

The Karnataka government has decided to utilize 22,000 government employees from various departments to conduct a caste census in Bengaluru, starting from September 22. A letter from Great Bengaluru Chief Commissioner Maheshwar Rao to the Chief Secretary has been issued, instructing the deployment of B and C cadre officers and staff for the exercise.

The survey is to be completed by October 10, and the employees will be involved in collecting data during this period. This initiative is part of the state government’s effort to conduct a comprehensive caste census.