NewKerala.com

Key Points

Karnataka BJP leader Chalavadi Narayanaswamy has made serious allegations about the state's caste census process. He claims the Backward Classes Commission is being run by external forces rather than its official members. The BJP delegation objected to how various castes are being labeled as Christians in the survey. Narayanaswamy warned of consequences if the Commission fails to resolve these issues promptly.

Key Points: BJP's Narayanaswamy Alleges Remote Control of Karnataka Caste Census

  • BJP delegation met Commission Chairman demanding cancellation of Christian tags for castes
  • Narayanaswamy described the caste census survey as a nest of confusion
  • He accused the survey of being an anti-Hindutva policy creating societal divisions
  • The Commission Chairman assured a meeting would be held to decide on the matter
3 min read

Caste census row: Remote control of Backward Classes Commission lies elsewhere, says K'taka BJP

BJP leader Chalavadi Narayanaswamy accuses the Backward Classes Commission of being remotely controlled and creating an "anti-Hindutva" confusion in the caste survey.

"If Dalits convert to Christianity, they cannot still be considered Dalits. That is where the confusion lies. - Chalavadi Narayanaswamy"

Bengaluru, Sep 23

Karnataka Legislative Council Opposition Leader and senior BJP leader Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, on Tuesday, alleged that the 'remote control' of the Karnataka State Permanent Backward Classes Commission lies elsewhere and the Commission is not being run by those who are officially part of it.

The Commission is entrusted with the task of conducting a caste census in the state.

Narayanaswamy led the BJP delegation to the Commission Chairman Madhusudhan Naik, demanding the cancellation of the Christian tag given to 15 more castes in the Scheduled Castes list related to the socio-economic and academic survey, also known as the caste census.

Speaking to the media on Tuesday, Narayanaswamy said that the caste census survey began on Monday.

He described the survey as a nest of confusion and accused it of being an "anti-Hindutva" policy.

"We (BJP delegation) met the Commission Chairman to request resolution of this confusion. Communities such as Brahmin Christians, Lingayat Christians, Vokkaligas, Veerashaivas have all been labelled as Christians. Similarly, Holeya, Madiga, Banjara Christians, Bovi Christians and others have been included," he said while opposing the caste census survey.

He said that when protests broke out and powerful communities protested, their names were hidden.

"But the names of Scheduled Castes and categories were not hidden, which has caused confusion."

He alleged that not all caste names have been dropped completely from the survey.

"They are speaking ambiguously. They say that even after conversion to Christianity, the original caste remains intact. How can that be possible? Will they decide that reservation should be given in the original caste itself? The court has already given its judgment. Who are they to decide?" he asked.

He also said, "If Dalits convert to Christianity, they cannot still be considered Dalits. That is where the confusion lies. Don't classify based on the caste of those who have converted to other religions. If you continue in this manner, you won't be able to write even a single document. Our (BJP) people will not allow it."

He added that in the Sadashiva Commission, Nagamohan Das Commission, Kantharaju Commission, and Jayaprakash Hegde Commission reports, the word 'Christian' was not included in reference to Scheduled Castes.

"So where has this come from now?" he asked.

He said that the Commission Chairman had assured the BJP delegation that a meeting would be called on Tuesday evening to take a decision on the matter.

"If no decision is taken today, the Commission alone will be responsible for the consequences," Narayanaswamy warned.

He also said that arguments took place during the discussion and that people are hurt.

"There is no objection to conversion to Christianity, but is the Commission engaging in brokerage work?" he asked.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priyanka N
As a social worker, I see both sides. Conversion shouldn't erase one's original social disadvantages, but the system needs clarity. The commission should have transparent guidelines instead of creating this mess.
M
Michael C
Interesting to see how caste dynamics play out in modern India. The "remote control" allegation is serious - if true, it undermines the entire census process. Need more transparency in how these commissions operate.
A
Anjali F
Why is BJP always making everything about religion? The census should focus on socio-economic data to help marginalized communities, not political agendas. This politicization helps nobody. 😒
S
Suresh O
Valid point by Narayanaswamy. You can't have it both ways - either you follow Christianity completely or you remain in your original caste framework. Reservation policies need clear boundaries.
K
Kavya N
The real issue is whether converted Christians face the same social discrimination as Hindu Dalits. If yes, maybe they deserve some support. But the methodology needs to be scientifically sound, not politically driven.
R
Rahul R
Another day, another political controversy in Karnataka. Instead of fighting, all parties should work together to create a fair system. The common people suffer when leaders play these games. 🤦‍♂️

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