Karnataka govt lacks competence to conduct caste census: YKC Wadiyar

'The Congress was in power at the Centre for several decades. Why didn't they conduct a caste census then?' asked Wadiyar.

Mysuru: MP Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja (YKC) Wadiyar said that there is no need for the Karnataka government to conduct the caste census, as the Centre itself is doing it for the entire nation.

Speaking to media persons in Mysuru on Saturday, Wadiyar said, the Karnataka government, led by the Congress, lacks the commitment and competence for conducting the caste census.

“The same Congress government, led by the same Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, conducted the caste census. Now, it has dumped the Kantharaj Commission report. Again, the Congress leaders are saying that a fresh caste census would be held. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led Central government, spearheaded by the BJP, is now conducting the caste census systematically, across Bharat. So, there is no need for an additional caste census by the Karnataka government,” he said.

Wadiyar said, “The Congress was in power at the Centre for several decades. Why didn't they conduct a caste census then? They are just doing politics in the name of a caste census. But, the BJP has taken the issue seriously”.

In reply to a question on Siddaramaiah's challenge for an open debate, with the opposition leaders on the same dais, on development, Wadiyar said, “Let them release a white paper on what development they have achieved so far. We will discuss the rest, once the white paper is released”.