BENGALURU: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah welcomed the Union Government’s decision to conduct a caste census along with the national population census. He urged the Centre to also carry out social, economic, and educational survey alongside the caste census. “In Karnataka, we didn’t just conduct a caste census - we also gathered data on the social, economic, and educational status of communities. Based on this data, we have taken steps to revise and expand the current reservation policy. I hope the Union Government will now follow through with this process as well,” the CM said on Wednesday.
Stating that the Social, Economic, and Educational Survey conducted in Karnataka is complete, the CM said that the State Government has already taken steps to revise the reservation policy and raise the 50% cap based on this data. “I urge Prime Minister Narendra Modi to reprimand BJP’s Karnataka leaders and advise them not to obstruct this effort,” Siddaramaiah said.
The CM termed the Karnataka model as robust and said that the state is fully prepared to extend any guidance or support the Centre may need.
He said the main purpose of a caste-based socio-economic-educational survey is to enable the formulation of a scientific and data-driven reservation policy. The Centre must take note that the Supreme Court has repeatedly stressed the need for such a survey during reservation-related hearings, he added.
Siddaramaiah said when he was Deputy CM in the Dharam Singh Government, they had set up the Permanent Backward Classes Commission and decided to conduct a Caste Census along with a socio-economic-educational survey. “Due to various reasons, that decision was not implemented. It took my return as Chief Minister to finally bring it to life,” he said. The CM congratulated Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who according to him has championed the Caste Census and the expansion of reservation limits. He not only supported these demands but made them a central part of Congress’ national agenda and campaign, the CM said.
“Even if Prime Minister Narendra Modi doesn’t acknowledge it, the country knows that it was Rahul Gandhi’s relentless pressure that forced the Centre to agree to a Caste Census,” the CM added
