Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah Fires Back at BJP Over Caste Census and Religious Conversions
In a sharp response to the BJP’s accusations, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah questioned why religious conversions even happen if society truly offers equality and equal opportunities. Speaking to reporters at Mysuru Airport on Saturday, the CM addressed the ongoing row over the state’s caste census plans.
The BJP has slammed the Congress government for allegedly adding new castes within the Christian community, claiming it’s a sneaky way to promote religious conversions and divide Hindu society. Karnataka BJP chief whip N. Ravikumar raised eyebrows over 47 supposed new castes like Kuruba Christian, Lingayat Christian, and Maratha Christian. He sarcastically asked if Christians themselves know about these, and demanded immediate clarification from the government. Ravikumar accused the Siddaramaiah administration of hatching a conspiracy to break Hindu unity and urged for a notification on why these castes were created.
But CM Siddaramaiah hit back hard. He asked what the central government has done about caste enumeration in its own surveys. "If someone converts religion, we count them based on their current caste—that’s the rule," he clarified. The CM pointed out that conversions often stem from social inequalities, like untouchability in Hindu society. "Why would anyone convert if there’s real equality in Hindu, Muslim, or Christian communities? People have the right to choose if inequality pushes them," he said, questioning how practices like untouchability even started.
Siddaramaiah also challenged the BJP’s narrative head-on: "Have we created untouchability? Conversions happen because of these deep-rooted issues, not because of any government plot."
Caste Census Survey Set to Kick Off Soon in Karnataka
Adding fuel to the debate, the Karnataka government has announced a major Socio-Economic and Educational Survey—often called the caste census—to run from September 22 to October 7, 2025, during the Dussehra festivities. On Friday, CM Siddaramaiah urged every citizen to join in and make it a success. "This survey will help us understand our society’s needs better," he said.
The Karnataka State Backward Classes Commission will lead the effort, deploying around 1.75 lakh teachers as enumerators. Each will get an honorarium of up to Rs 20,000, with the total cost for this hitting about Rs 325 crore. The commission expects to deliver its full report by December 2025.
BJP Slams Government’s Spending on Caste Census
Karnataka BJP President and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra isn’t holding back either. He criticized the Congress for wasting Rs 165 crore on the earlier Kantaraju Commission caste census, only to toss it aside as "outdated" after 10 years. Now, with plans for this new survey costing another Rs 425 crore, Vijayendra warned the CM not to let it become a political tool for personal gains, just like the last one.
As Karnataka gears up for this comprehensive caste census survey, the debate on religious conversions, caste categorization in Christians, and social equality continues to heat up. Stay tuned for more updates on how this unfolds in the state.
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