Bengaluru, 23 September (IANS) A Karnataka BJP delegation on Tuesday, Madhusudan R. Met Naik and demanded the removal of Christian tag assigned to Hindu castes in the socio-economic and academic survey, known as a caste census.
The BJP leaders warned the Commission that if the decision was not taken by Tuesday evening to remove the Christian tag, the panel would be held responsible for the results.
The delegation was led by the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, Shalwadi Narayanaswamy, BJP State General Secretary and MLA V. Sunil Kumar, Opposition Chief Whip and MLC N. Ravikumar, former Union Minister A. Narayanaswamy, and others. He met Chairman Madhuskhan Naik and presented his objections.
Talking to the media after the meeting, Chachavadi Narayanaswamy said, “When the Sadashiva Commission was formed, there was no Christian tag for the Hindu castes. Even the Kantharaju Commission, which operated the previous caste census, did not include such a tag. The castes?”
He said, “Chairman Naik has assured us that he will hold a meeting today and make a call on the matter. We warned that if it continues, the Commission will be held responsible for the results. During the meeting, arguments, counter-inums and voices are raised during the meeting,” he said.
“The BJP is giving voice to the concerns of the people,” Narayanaswamy claimed.
The petition presented said, “The Commission released a list of 1,400 castes on August 23. In that list, 48 Hindu castes were given a Christian tag. Of these, 15 were sub-castes belonging to Scheduled Castes and one for Scheduled Tribes. It had instigated outrage in the state.
“On September 21, the Commission claimed that 33 Hindu castes with Christian tag were hidden in an app used for caste census survey. However, objections were raised more than 48 sub-castes, while clarification was given only for 33. The clarification was given only for 33. Hindu sub-castes with Christian tags all fall under all the prescribed caste category.”
The petition stated, “We urge that the Christian tag given to these sub-classes should be removed immediately and the commission should issue an official statement. It is not appropriate to clarify only 33 sub-classes for the Commission, while remaining silent on the remaining Dalit-Christian castes, stating in the petition.
BJP said, “Two months ago, Justice Nagamohan Das Commission conducted a socio-economic and educational survey of 101 SC sub-castes for the purpose of internal reservation. At that time, these 15 Dalit-Christian castes were not included. If the new malit-cristed communities are included, it will be told that the data will change.”
The party demanded that the app used for caste survey be improved and the Commission issued a media statement to clarify the matter.
Meanwhile, the controversial caste survey has started across the state except Bangalore from Monday. The High Court is expected to fulfill its decision on Tuesday whether the practice of caste census should be maintained.
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MKA/Work