BJP mocks CM Siddaramaiah on caste census advice to Centre
Earlier, CM Siddaramaiah said that his government was fully prepared to extend any guidance to the Union government on the caste census.
R. Ashoka, the Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly, stated, 'Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, your statement suggesting that Karnataka's model should be adopted for the caste census is truly laughable. A report whose original copy has gone missing, which lacks even the signatures of the secretaries, where applications were filled by school children paid five to ten rupees per form, where houses with dogs were skipped during enumeration, and which even after ten years remains unaccepted - your caste census report stands as a textbook example of how not to conduct a caste census.'
'Your claim that the BJP has always opposed the caste census is an outright lie. In 2010, the then Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, the late Sushma Swaraj, had formally conveyed to the UPA government that the BJP supported, including caste enumeration in the 2011 census. The BJP had also supported the unanimous resolution passed in Parliament on the matter,' Ashoka pointed out.
However, instead of conducting a proper caste census, the then Congress government carried out a flawed Social-Economic Caste Census - 2011 (SECC-2011). Like Karnataka's caste census, this too suffered from poor planning and ineffective execution, leading to its complete failure. Despite spending crores of rupees, the findings were never officially released. This reveals the Congress party's true commitment towards the caste census, Ashoka stated.
'The BJP has never misused the caste census as an electoral weapon. When in power, we demonstrated commitment by deciding to carry out the caste census. We did not indulge in petty politics by shedding crocodile tears while in opposition and ignoring the issue when in power. This reflects our genuine dedication to social justice. BJP's only concern regarding the caste census has always been that it should not be misused for political attacks,' Ashoka underlined.
'The caste census that the Central government is now set to conduct will be carried out in a highly transparent, scientific, and purposeful manner - not manipulated for political gain as your Congress government did by twisting data to suit your needs,' Ashoka stated, addressing CM Siddaramaiah.
Karnataka's caste census process serves only as an example of how not to conduct a caste census; there are no aspects worth emulating from it, he reiterated.
Welcoming the decision for caste census by the centre, CM Siddaramaiah stated on Wednesday, 'Just as the BJP initially mocked our five guarantee schemes and later adopted them, the Modi government's decision to implement a caste census proves that Congress' policies are rooted in public welfare.
"The Karnataka government's caste-based Social, Economic, and Educational Survey is a robust model. We are fully prepared to extend any guidance or support the Union government may need,' the CM said.
CM Siddaramaiah further stated, 'Our government wholeheartedly welcomes the Union government's decision to conduct a caste census along with the national population census. At this moment, I urge the Union government to also carry out a social, economic, and educational survey alongside the census. In Karnataka, we didn't just conduct a caste census - we also gathered data on the social, economic, and educational status of communities. Based on this data, we have taken steps to revise and expand the current reservation policy. I hope the Union government will now follow through with this process as well.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
13 minutes ago
- Hans India
Will expose BRS, BJP conspiracy against Telangana: Bhatti
Kollapur (Nagarkurnool): Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka issued a strong warning against the conspiracies being hatched against Telangana in the name of Banakacherla and Polavaram projects. He alleged that BRS, BJP, and TDP have colluded and conspired to merge seven mandals of Khammam district into Andhra Pradesh, which was attempted through an ordinance. During the public meeting held in Kollapur constituency on the occasion of foundation stone laying for new substations, distribution of ration cards, and Indiramma housing pattas on Saturday, the Deputy Chief Minister questioned the silence of the BRS government for ten years, saying their inaction brought Banakacherla to the forefront. He said it was only when Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy visited Delhi that the Banakacherla proposal was halted. Bhatti said that AP Minister Lokesh's statements about Telangana wasting water and building Banakacherla with such water are misleading. He clarified that water flowing downstream is only because Telangana's upstream projects were left incomplete, and only after completing all its rights and needs will Telangana allow any further discussion on Banakacherla. 'The BRS came to power promising water, funds, and jobs. But in ten years, the previous government failed to complete any major projects on Godavari or Krishna rivers. It was Congress governments that initiated and completed projects like Jurala, Nettempadu, Koilsagar, Kalwakurthy, Srisailam, and Nagarjunasagar on the Krishna river,' he said. Bhatti recalled how the Congress had proposed the Pranahita-Chevella project at 152m height to benefit upland areas. Instead, former chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao went for the Kaleshwaram project at only 100m height, which ultimately collapsed despite spending ₹1.2 lakh crores, whereas Pranahita-Chevella could have been completed for Rs 38,000 crore. He accused the previous BRS government of redesigning projects only to loot the state treasury, and not delivering even a single acre of irrigation. The Deputy Chief Minister said the state witnessed fear and suppression, with dissenting voices silenced and people arrested arbitrarily during BRS rule. 'Congress has brought back democracy in Telangana and is working for the people,' he added.
Indian Express
13 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Bihar MP Pappu Yadav: ‘We want Nitish ji to stay strong but BJP does not want him to .. He should return to Mahagathbandhan'
Associated with the Congress party, independent MP Rajesh Ranjan, popularly known as Pappu Yadav, has been an outspoken leader in Bihar politics. Ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, he merged his Jan Adhikar Party with the Congress. However, he had to contest from Purnea as an Independent after he could not get the Congress's ticket with the seat going to its senior ally Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) under their Mahagathbandhan alliance. However, he still managed to win the seat by defeating the Janata Dal (United) candidate, becoming an MP for the sixth time. In an interview with The Indian Express, Pappu Yadav, 57, speaks on a range of issues related to the upcoming Bihar Assembly polls. Excerpts: As a worker who takes our leader Rahul Gandhi's vision to the people… Bihar is in a very bad condition. Three crore people have migrated. And there has been no capital investment in the state in the last 30-40 years. Not a single factory has been set up. Our state has the highest potential for food processing, but no one talks about it. All the leaders. No one has the will-power. They just want to stay in power. As a man, Nitish ji is a good person; he is honest. But everyone around Nitish ji is dishonest. An 'Inspector Raj' was in effect. The officers (bureaucrats) ran Nitish ji's government. Everyone looted. The BJP never wanted Nitish ji (as CM). Nitish ji still has a secular image today. But the way things are, Muslims feel that Chandrababu Naidu (TDP) and Nitish Kumar have stabbed in the back by supporting the NDA government on the amended Waqf law. This has caused them the most pain. When our leader (Rahul Gandhi) demands 65% reservation and caste census, Nitish ji becomes silent. Without Nitish ji, BJP has no value in Bihar and a BJP government cannot be formed. Now the EBC (Extremely Backward Classes) have understood that the BJP has finished their leader (Nitish). So, the EBC, ST, SC, OBC votes are shifting towards the Congress. We have to take the alliance along. Without the perspective of the Congress, you cannot do anything. People in Bihar are moving towards the Congress. I do not know anything about this. I am nowhere. Only our leader will tell. Who is there to ask Pappu Yadav? I am just an ordinary worker. I am not entitled to speak on that. We will fight and win the election on our leader (Rahul Gandhi)'s vision and make the INDIA bloc win. If you eliminate the votes of STs, SCs, and EBCs in this manner, there will be a very bad impact on elections. There is no question of political loss. The question is of rights being snatched. We will not allow it to be erased. JMM should definitely be included…(On AIMIM) tell me one thing… We speak against the RSS, and there is another ideology that only talks about its own. They (AIMIM) is only concerned about their quam (community). You should talk about the Constitution. What impact did he have? The first time he came, he went to work in Amethi. He then went with Modi ji. He then went to Nitish ji, Mamata, came to Congress… He got a vanity van… sleeps in AC and says, 'I am touring' and that he will become the chief minister. The EBCs, STs, SCs, OBCs and minorities in Bihar have developed a hunger for politics. In Bihar, only an EBC, ST, or SC will be the Chief Minister. No one else can be. It would not happen for the next 50 years at least. The political hunger has awakened in the country. 90% of the people are from these suppressed communities, so why should the other 10% always rule? If we move together on Rahul Gandhi ji's vision, bring Hemant ji (Soren), and strengthen the alliance even more, don't let anyone leave, and avoid ego clashes – those who are keen to become Chief Minister they must understand such things… that if we follow Rahul Gandhi's vision, everyone will support us and the Mahagathbandhan will win… then no one can stop the INDIA alliance. The BJP is the biggest threat itself. BJP survives only because of Nitish Kumar. The prevailing situation is not good. We want Nitish ji to stay strong but BJP does not want him to. Yes, he should come to the alliance. Because the BJP will stab him in the back. Personally, I respect Nitish ji. It is not just me. Our leaders respect him too.
The Hindu
13 minutes ago
- The Hindu
'Politics of religion': BJP criticises Mamata for ₹1.1 lakh grant to community Durga Pujas
The BJP criticised West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, accusing her of indulging in politics of religion over her announcement of a Rs 1.1 lakh government grant for community Durga Pujas. BJP's state general secretary Agnimitra Paul on Saturday (August 2, 2025) alleged that the Banerjee-led government was ignoring development, while giving out doles. Ms. Paul, the MLA of Asansol South constituency, said building temples and giving grants for puja cannot be the objective of a government. "This shows the government is shifting its priorities. Instead of building roads and creating employment opportunities, Mamata Banerjee is busy doing politics of religion," she alleged, speaking to reporters. Now, members of other communities will demand that the government build their places of worship, just like the Jagannath temple in Digha, she added. Ms. Paul, a fashion designer-turned-politician, said the BJP was in favour of developing the education sector, creating employment opportunities, and uplifting every Indian citizen, irrespective of their religion.
