Centre’s caste census will clear confusion over Karnataka data, says BJP

The Socio-Economic and Educational Survey was carried out in 2015 when H. Kantharaj was chairperson of the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

The Karnataka unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has described the decision of the Centre to conduct a caste census along with the general census as ‘historic’. The BJP is of the opinion that the Centre’s caste census would go a long way in ‘ending the confusion’ over the findings of the caste census taken up by the Congress government in Karnataka.

Former Deputy CM C.N. Ashwath Narayan claimed that the Congress government in Karnataka had conducted a caste census in the guise of Socio-Economic and Educational Survey, though it did not have the authority to take up such a census.

“The proposed caste census to be taken up by the Centre, using its authority in a legal and scientific manner, will put an end to all the confusion triggered by the caste census in Karnataka,” Dr. Ashwath Narayan claimed.

‘Main data’

Opposition Chief Whip in the Legislative Council N. Ravikumar expressed concern that findings of the caste census in Karnataka had been disputed by various communities as their population size had allegedly been under-enumerated. The Centre’s proposed caste census would henceforth serve as the main data for various projects and schemes to be taken up in future, he said.

Taking to X, Union Minister and JD(S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy said, “This is a major decision that will provide official, scientific and transparent data on castes. I am of the firm view that it will be very unlike the politically-motivated State-wise surveys.”