Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has maintained that the survey would not only reveal the conditions of Dalits, backward classes, and minorities, but also highlight the plight of the poor and deprived among forward castes.
| Photo Credit: MURALI KUMAR K
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday (September 29, 2025) came down heavily on State BJP leaders for opposing the ongoing Social and Educational Survey, terming their stance “self-contradictory and politically motivated.”
In a strongly-worded statement, the Chief Minister said that the exercise being conducted by the Karnataka State Backward Classes Commission is “not confined to any caste or religion” but covers the entire population of nearly seven crore people in Karnataka.
“This is not against anyone, it is for everyone. The purpose is to ensure social, economic, and educational equality by giving equal share and opportunities to all,” he said.
To ensure equality
“Our government began the survey to ensure equality. The moment we started, the true colours of those raising the ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’ slogan have been revealed,” the Chief Minister said in a statement.
Pointing out that BJP leaders, one after another, are coming out and urging people to boycott the survey or not reveal certain details, Mr. Siddaramaiah stated, “According to Manuvaada, wealth, opportunities, and representation must remain as they are. The poor must remain poor, the backward classes must remain backward, women must remain deprived of opportunities, and inequality between castes and classes must continue. This is the mindset that lies at the core of BJP leaders.”
For all castes
He maintained that the survey would not only reveal the conditions of Dalits, backward classes, and minorities, but also highlight the plight of the poor and deprived among forward castes — a reality that the BJP “does not want revealed.”
Pointing out that caste-based socio-economic surveys have already been conducted in Bihar and Telangana without opposition from the BJP, the Chief Minister questioned the party’s “silence” in those States and at the Centre.
“The Narendra Modi-led government itself is preparing to conduct a caste census. If the BJP opposes our survey, will it also oppose the Centre’s? Do they have the courage to say this openly before the Prime Minister?” he asked.
‘Extend co-operation’
“The people of Karnataka must recognise this self-deceptive behaviour of BJP leaders. Their politically motivated false claims should be thrown into the dustbin. Everyone should participate whole-heartedly and extend complete cooperation in the ongoing Social, Economic, and Educational Survey. By doing so, together, let us build an equal society and turn Karnataka into a garden of peace for all communities,” he said.
On September 29, Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly R. Ashok had maintained that there is no compulsion for people to provide personal information in the survey, while other BJP leaders including MP Tejasvi Surya had called for boycotting the survey. Union Minister Pralhad Joshi on Sunday had expressed apprehension that caste survey data in Karnataka could be “sold”, raising doubts about the intentions behind the exercise.
Published – September 29, 2025 06:01 pm IST
