State caste census a political tool to divide society: BJP

Bengaluru: The BJP on Thursday launched a scathing attack on the ruling Congress government in Karnataka, accusing it of using the 2015 Social and Educational Survey — known as the caste census — as a political tool to divide society.

State BJP president B Y Vijayendra lauded the Union government’s move and asserted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi intends to ensure justice and equitable distribution of benefits to all communities, especially those socially and economically disadvantaged.

Speaking to reporters, Vijayendra said, “A caste-based census was last conducted in 1931. For true social justice, every citizen must be counted and every community must be given its due. Prime Minister Modi is working with this inclusive vision.”

Turning his focus to the Congress government, Vijayendra accused Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of using caste as a wedge to divide society.

“Siddaramaiah is sowing the seeds of caste-based division on the pretext of social justice,” he alleged.

Vijayendra also criticised the Congress for failing to release the findings of the Rs 160 crore state-sponsored caste survey conducted in 2015 during Siddaramaiah’s earlier tenure as chief minister.

“Nearly a decade has passed, yet the report is missing. Even senior Congress leader Veerappa Moily admitted that the report was never submitted. This proves the Congress had no genuine intention behind the survey,” he said.

Echoing these views, Opposition Leader R Ashoka challenged the Congress to explain why successive governments, led by Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and Dr Manmohan Singh, never undertook a caste census.

“Congress must apologise for ignoring the need for a caste survey throughout its decades in power,” Ashoka demanded.

Ashoka further argued that only the central government has the constitutional authority to conduct such a census.

“What happened to the Rs 160 crore report prepared by the Karnataka government? Several religious leaders have stated that no real survey was conducted. This makes the state’s report unofficial and politically motivated,” he claimed.

He also dismissed the state’s caste data as unscientific, alleging it was compiled under political pressure.

“The central government’s survey will be conducted using scientific methods. The state’s report, allegedly prepared at Siddaramaiah’s residence, will end up in the trash bin,” Ashoka said.

Further intensifying his criticism, Ashok accused Siddaramaiah of using the survey for political survival amidst growing dissent within his party and among the public.

In a pointed remark, Ashoka said, “Congress today is divided — Siddaramaiah’s Congress and (Deputy CM) D K Shivakumar’s Congress are two separate entities.”

He mocked ministers Santosh Lad and R B Thimmapur, claiming that they are more known in Pakistani media than in Karnataka.