BJP opposes a 'hasty' caste survey in Karnataka, urges Siddaramaiah govt to back Census 2027

The BJP has opposed the fresh caste survey proposed by the Karnataka government citing “duplication” of work as the Centre has announced a caste survey along with the Census 2027.

During a round table conference on the ‘Caste census’ organised by Samajika Nyaya Jagriti Vedike (social justice forum), the various stakeholders passed a resolution condemning the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government in Karnataka for failing to implement the caste survey (H Kantharaju Commission report) for over a decade, and also welcomed the Centre’s decision to include a nationwide caste survey along with the upcoming Census.

The forum urged the state government to drop its plan to carry out an independent caste survey and extend cooperation to the Centre, when the latter takes up the Census work in two phases - March and October 2027.

Last week, the Centre notified its intent to carry out the Census 2027, the first nationwide (140 crore population) caste enumeration since 1931, with house-listing operation and population enumeration being carried out by 34 lakh enumerators and supervisors, along with 1.3 lakh Census functionaries and at a cost of Rs 13,000 crore.

The OBC leaders from the BJP accused Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, an ‘Ahinda’ leader, of “letting down” the backward classes by junking the old caste survey at the behest of the Congress high command and announcing a fresh survey.

“Siddaramaiah was never keen on implementing the caste census. The survey (H Kanatharaju commission report) was ready in 2015, but the Congress government failed to table it. During his second stint, Siddaramaiah took 14 months to put up the report before the state cabinet. Now, the Congress government has stalled the report and ordered for a fresh caste survey, after wasting ₹165 crore on the old survey,” charged Karkala MLA V Sunil Kumar.

The saffron party leaders questioned the Congress’s commitment towards implementing the OBC reservation and also pointed out that the Siddaramaiah government in Karnataka had dumped the caste survey while states like Bihar and Telangana had completed the caste census in a short time, in 2023 and 2024 respectively.

Expressing reservations over the state government’s plan to outsource enumerators (as government teachers will be busy with academic work), Dr KR Venugopal, retired vice chancellor of Bangalore University, said, “The state government should extend support to the enumeration work to be carried out by the Centre in Karnataka and uphold the federal system of governance. Also, the Centre should fix the international reservation for the SC and women’s reservation prior to the next Parliament elections.”

BJP MP P.C. Mohan said, “A new survey by the state is irrelevant as the Census 2027, which will be carried out by the Centre, has Constitutional validity and will be comprehensive as it will cover 32 data points. On the other hand, the state government has ordered a fresh survey as it was being opposed by many as it was 10 years old and hence redundant.”

The BJP has decided to hold seminars and conventions to educate the people on the Census 2027 to avoid disparities and confusion. On June 28, Union minister Bhupendra Yadav will be taking part in one such convention in Bengaluru.

Incidentally, the Census 2027 will be comprehensive as it would cover the social and educational status of the different communities too. The massive exercise will be conducted in a scientific manner and simultaneously across the country nation, with adequate manpower. Most importantly, the caste census along with the enumeration for the Census, would help prevent politicisation of the exercise, feel experts favouring a nationwide uniform and common exercise.  

India