Decision for fresh caste census in Karnataka shows earlier data collection was flawed: BJP

Former Minister and Karkala MLA V. Sunil Kumar .
| Photo Credit: UMESH S SHETTIGAR

Alleging that the Congress high command’s decision to order a re-enumeration with respect to the caste census citing concerns over data had exposed Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah who had vouched for authenticity of the data, the opposition BJP demanded that he should apologise and also submit his resignation. 

“The Chief Minister had been hoodwinking people of Karnataka with a false claim that the caste census data is accurate. He had remained stubborn with respect to data though the opposition parties, some leaders within the ruling Congress, and various communities had raised objections. Now, it is time for him to quit as his own party high command has sought a resurvey,” argued BJP’s OBC face and former minister V. Sunil Kumar. 

Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru on June 11, Mr. Sunil Kumar urged the Karnataka government to desist from taking up a re-survey while pointing out that the Centre had already announced its decision to take up a caste census along with the general census within the next six months.

“As there is no constitutional validity for the caste census of Karnataka, it is better for the State to co-operate with the Centre in conducting the caste census instead of taking up such a process again,” he said. 

Pointing out that the Chief Minister had said that the State Government would complete the re-survey within 90 days, he maintained that it is not possible to stick to such a deadline. “We have already seen that the Congress government has extended the deadline for survey of SC communities thrice as it was unable to complete it within the given time-frame. That being the case, is it possible to complete the survey of the entire 7 crore population of the State within 90 days?”  

“The CM’s 90-day deadline is not for completing the re-survey, but for him to quit to make way for transfer of power,” Mr. Sunil Kumar remarked. 

Pointing out that ₹165 crore had been spent on conducting the caste census, he urged the Chief Minister to own up to squandering public money, and to desist from again squandering taxpayers’ money for a re-survey. 

When he was reminded that the BJP had been demanding a re-survey, he clarified, “The BJP is not opposed to a caste census. Our only concern was with respect to the authenticity of enumeration and data. We had demanded re-survey before the Centre announcing its decision to conduct a caste census. Now there is no need for duplicity as the Centre itself is conducting it.” 

‘Effort to divert public attention from stampede’:

He termed the decision by the Congress government to take up a re-survey as an effort to divert public attention from the demand for resignation of the Chief Minister in the wake of the stampede during the RCB’s victory celebrations in Bengaluru. that claimed 11 lives. 

Questioning the commitment of the Chief Minster to OBCs and caste census, Mr. Sunil Kumar accused him of using these two issues to protect himself whenever he found the going tough in politics. 

“Now, the Congress high command has snubbed the Chief Minister by rejecting the survey, which had been endorsed him. It is a loss of face for Mr. Siddaramaiah who has meekly surrendered before the high command,” he alleged. 

He also ridiculed the Chief Minister for his stand that the caste census report has been approved in principal though a fresh enumeration would be conducted. “How can someone approve a report when its data collection itself is flawed?”

Opposition Chief Whip in the Legislative Council N. Ravi Kumar alleged that the Congress high command and its top leader Rahul Gandhi were never in agreement with Mr. Siddaramaiah’s caste census right from the beginning. “In fact, Mr. Rahul Gandhi had urged the Centre to consider Telangana’s example as a model while taking up the caste census. He would have mentioned Karnataka’s caste census as the model if he had faith in it,” the BJP MLC argued.