Last Updated:May 02, 2025, 08:32 IST

Siddaramaiah accused the BJP-led central government of mimicking the Congress, first by criticising its guarantee schemes, and now by announcing a caste census.

Siddaramaiah also said that the Centre should inform the people of the country about the timeline for conducting the census. (PTI Photo)

The BJP at the Centre is merely copying what the Congress has been doing, said Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. He claimed that the caste census, which was first initiated by the Congress government, is now being claimed by the BJP. He also recalled the groundwork done when he was Deputy Chief Minister in Karnataka during the Dharam Singh regime, and accused the BJP of trying to take ownership of the effort.

Siddaramaiah accused the BJP-led central government of mimicking the Congress, first by criticising its guarantee schemes, and now by announcing a caste census, both of which were Congress initiatives and part of its manifesto, but are now being accepted by the BJP.

“The BJP government at the Centre is copying us. When we introduced the guarantee schemes, they opposed them at first. Now they are implementing them. The same has happened with the caste census. Under pressure from Rahul Gandhi, and with the Bihar elections approaching, they’ve been forced to announce it,” Siddaramaiah told reporters.

He said the Centre’s decision to include caste enumeration in the upcoming national census was a win for social justice and credited Rahul Gandhi’s persistent push over the past two years for forcing the BJP’s hand.

“I congratulate Shri Rahul Gandhi for this commitment to social justice. For two years, he has been demanding that the Government of India conduct a caste census. It is because of this sustained pressure that they’ve finally agreed,” Siddaramaiah said.

The announcement by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Wednesday that the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs had approved caste enumeration in the upcoming census sparked political fireworks. While the Centre called it a transparent exercise, the Congress was quick to claim credit and hailed it as a victory for Rahul Gandhi’s vision.

Siddaramaiah also said that the Centre should inform the people of the country about the timeline for conducting the census. “It should not be like the women’s reservation bill, where you don’t see it being implemented — it’s just on paper. This is a serious matter and they should say how they are going to do it, how they are going to conduct the socio-economic and educational survey,” he insisted.

Siddaramaiah didn’t hold back. He reminded the Centre that it was his government in Karnataka that had already conducted a comprehensive caste-based, social, economic and educational survey. “We said in our manifesto that we would conduct a socio-economic and caste census. I don’t know whether the Centre will do just a caste count or a proper survey. Social justice cannot be achieved without a full socio-economic survey,” he said.

The Chief Minister also invoked history, pointing to the Congress’s long-standing commitment to backward classes. “Since 1945, the RSS, Jan Sangh and BJP have opposed caste census, claiming it would create strife. But caste is a reality in our social system. We cannot pretend it doesn’t exist. Through caste data, we can work towards equality,” he said.

He emphasised that the caste system can only be dismantled by recognising its existence and addressing the structural inequalities it creates. “The caste system can be removed only by eliminating economic and social inequality,” he said.

Siddaramaiah recalled that the groundwork for the current survey in Karnataka began during his tenure as Deputy CM under Dharam Singh, when he proposed the formation of a permanent Backward Classes Commission and a socio-economic survey. But it was only when he became CM again between 2013 and 2018 that the proposal was implemented. That was when the Kantharaju Commission began groundwork for the caste census in 2015.

The first caste census under his government was carried out in 2015 by the Kantharaju Commission, but the report was pushed into cold storage. It was only after a decade, under the leadership of Jayaprakash Hegde, that the Backward Classes Commission finalised and submitted the report to the CM in February 2024. The survey, covering 94 per cent of Karnataka’s population, has now been placed before the cabinet, but discussions remain inconclusive.

“The governments headed by Kumaraswamy, Yediyurappa and Bommai did nothing about the caste census, which was with the Backward Classes Commission. Jayaprakash Hegde, who was then chairman and took over during Bommai’s tenure, handed over the census report when I became CM again. We have tabled it and we will discuss it,” he said.

The cabinet meeting on April 17 to discuss the report ended without resolution. Another meeting planned for May 2 was postponed, with insiders pointing to disagreements over methodology and data — especially numbers that reportedly show a demographic shift in favour of OBCs, unsettling dominant caste equations. Sources suggest the leaked data indicates that Vokkaligas and Lingayats are no longer the largest caste groups, causing unease within the political establishment.

“We’ve conducted the survey. The cabinet has to decide. We can’t make a decision until the cabinet ministers present their case. I’ve asked the ministers to submit their opinions in writing. Once we receive that, it will be presented for discussion. Then we will have something to say about it,” Siddaramaiah said.

He maintained that the objective behind Karnataka’s survey was to frame a scientific reservation policy. “The Supreme Court has, time and again, stressed the need for data in reservation cases. Based on our survey, we plan to revise the reservation policy and raise the 50 per cent ceiling. The Jayaprakash and Kantharaju Commissions have recommended 51 per cent reservation,” he said, adding that only the Centre has the power to remove that cap.

He accused BJP’s Karnataka unit of trying to sabotage the Congress government’s plans. “We are trying to increase reservation, but BJP leaders here are opposing it for their own reasons. I urge the PM to reprimand them,” he said.

“The BJP was the same party that for years criticised caste census as divisive and a threat to Hindu unity. Now, they’re doing exactly what we did. It’s the same story as the guarantee schemes. The Prime Minister may not admit it, but the country knows he’s acting under pressure,” Siddaramaiah said.

He said the caste-based social, economic and educational survey done by the state was a model and offered to cooperate with the Centre to replicate it nationally.

“We welcome the Centre’s decision. But I urge them to go beyond just a caste census—conduct a full social, economic and educational survey. Only then can true social justice be delivered,” he said.

BJP Hits Back

Leader of Opposition R Ashoka challenged the Congress and questioned why the caste census was not conducted during their time in power.

He said the Narendra Modi-led government had decided to conduct a caste census to uphold social justice. “Despite Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi serving as Prime Ministers after independence, the Congress did not conduct a caste survey,” Ashoka said.

He added that the Congress “lacked basic awareness” for such an initiative and that the proposal for a caste census was rejected during Manmohan Singh’s tenure.

He said the Modi government has announced that the women’s reservation will be implemented by 2029, and that the caste census will aid this process.

Taking on Siddaramaiah, Ashoka said that while the caste census was conducted in 2015, it was released only ten years later. “Congress should reflect on this delay. They should apologise for failing to conduct a national caste census and explain why it wasn’t done,” the senior BJP leader said.

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