Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, May 1: The Congress government in Karnataka has asserted that the Union government’s decision to undertake a caste census is a direct consequence of persistent demands by Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha. The state’s ruling party also pledged its full support for the initiative.
Speaking to reporters outside his residence in Bengaluru on Thursday, deputy chief minister and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president D K Shivakumar said the Centre’s announcement followed sustained pressure from Rahul Gandhi on the need for a nationwide caste enumeration.
“Rahul Gandhi, as Leader of Opposition, has repeatedly asserted that it is the responsibility of the Centre to carry out a caste census. The Centre has now yielded to his demand and taken a step in that direction,” Shivakumar stated.
Responding to media queries regarding the Centre’s decision, he added, “Rahul Gandhi has also insisted that the caste census be completed within a fixed timeline. If justice is to be ensured for all communities, the distribution of facilities and benefits must be based on accurate population data. This has been a long-standing ideological position of the Congress party. Our chief minister shares this view, and the Karnataka government will extend full cooperation.”
The Congress-led government also urged the Centre to broaden the scope of the exercise by including a comprehensive survey of the social, economic, and educational status of all communities, alongside the caste census.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, in a statement released on Wednesday following the Union Cabinet’s decision, said, “Our government wholeheartedly welcomes the Centre’s move to conduct a caste census along with the population census. At the same time, I urge the Central government to also conduct a social, economic, and educational survey along with it.”
“In Karnataka, we not only undertook a caste census but also assessed the social, economic, and educational status of communities. Based on this data, we have sought to revise the existing reservation policy and enhance its scope. I hope the Centre will take similar steps to complete this process,” he added.
The Congress has long championed the idea that welfare schemes and reservations should be backed by updated and credible demographic data. The Karnataka government’s own caste survey, conducted during Siddaramaiah’s earlier tenure, has been cited in support of this policy approach.