Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje Slams Karnataka Government’s Caste Census Plan
In a sharp attack on the Karnataka government, Union Minister of State for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Labour and Employment Shobha Karandlaje accused Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of trying to split Hindus and steal reservation benefits from Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) through the upcoming caste census. She made these remarks while speaking to reporters in Bidar on Friday.
Shobha pointed out that Siddaramaiah often turns to dividing communities whenever he faces setbacks. "Back in 2013, he tried to split the Veerashaiva and Lingayat groups right down to the village level. Now, he’s going after all castes in Karnataka under the guise of this caste census," she said. She highlighted how the government is creating new sub-castes, including ones like Vokkaliga-Christian, Lingayat-Christian, Ganiga-Christian, and Nekara-Christian. "Why are you doing this?" she questioned.
The minister called it a "clear conspiracy" to grab SC and ST reservations. "If someone from SC, ST, or backward communities wants to convert to Christianity, that’s their choice—no issue there. But they should identify as Christians and get the benefits meant for minorities," Shobha explained. Instead, she alleged, the government is using these new categories to redirect reservation perks to Christian converts, calling it a "well-planned plot" by Siddaramaiah’s team.
Shobha urged Hindus to unite beyond caste lines. "It’s time for all Hindus to come together and forget these divisions. Otherwise, we’ll get split into groups, and they’ll take away our reservations. This is just like what the British did—Siddaramaiah’s government has that same divisive mindset," she warned.
The controversy centers on Karnataka’s planned Socio-Economic and Educational Survey, often dubbed the caste census. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced it will run from September 22 to October 7, 2025, during the Dussehra holidays. The Karnataka State Backward Classes Commission will lead the effort, deploying around 1.75 lakh teachers who’ll receive up to Rs 20,000 each as honorarium. The total cost for these payments alone is about Rs 325 crore.
Siddaramaiah added that the Backward Classes Commission should submit the full report by December, aiming to map out social, economic, and educational details across castes in the state. This move has sparked heated debates on caste census in Karnataka, with critics like Shobha raising alarms over its potential impact on Hindu unity and reservation policies.
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