Siddaramaiah using caste census as tool to secure position: Bommai

Bengaluru: BJP MP from Haveri-Gadag Basavaraj Bommai on Sunday alleged that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was using the ongoing caste census survey as a political tool to secure his position amid an unfolding leadership tussle in the Congress.

Speaking to reporters here, he said that the socio-economic survey — commonly known as caste census — was primarily designed to safeguard Siddaramaiah’s political future and to block Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar’s chances of becoming CM.

Bommai questioned the necessity of collecting caste data in socio-economic surveys, asking why caste was required for such surveys. He pointed out that the CM had directed the commission to submit the caste census report by December, implying that the timing was politically motivated.

This is because a faction within Congress, supporting Shivakumar, wants him to be made the CM in December.

The MP said that the government lacked the authority to conduct the caste census, maintaining that this jurisdiction was exclusively of the central government.

On recording of religious conversions to Christianity in the census, Bommai said the Constitution recognised only six religions, which should alone be listed.

However, he claimed that the government introduced a new column for converted Christians, effectively treating it as a new religion — a move he called illegal, unconstitutional and politically motivated.

The MP said, “Conversions happen on both sides, but why has the CM only legitimized conversions to Christianity? He has gone a step further by calling conversion a right”.

Referring to the state’s anti-conversion law, Bommai said conversions were driven by desires and temptations, with poverty and lack of education exploited to induce change of faith. He questioned the authority behind adding the converts’ column, asking under which law was it done and who authorised it.

On the inclusion of “atheist” column in the census, the former CM sarcastically remarked that it was created just for Siddaramaiah. He accused the All India Veerashaiva-Lingayat Mahasabha of being completely pro-Congress.

He urged the Mahasabha to provide suggestions aligned with law and the Constitution and avoid creating confusion.

The MP stressed the need to clear the identity confusion within the community — sometimes called a new religion, at other times Veerashaiva, Lingayat, or Veerashaiva-Lingayat, warning that the public would make their own decisions otherwise.

Bommai said senior BJP leaders were seriously discussing the matter.