Only Centre competent enough to conduct caste census, says Mysuru MP Yaduveer

The BJP’s OBC Morcha on Saturday organised an awareness programme here on the caste census, where MP for Mysuru Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar strongly backed the Centre’s initiative and criticised the Karnataka government’s past efforts in this connection.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Yaduveer emphasised the need for increased awareness about the caste census, and reiterated that the Central government has the constitutional power to conduct such an exercise.

“Many states, including Karnataka, have said they will conduct a caste census, but what they’re really doing is a  socio-economic and educational survey, and even there, the Congress has failed to do it scientifically,” he added.

He said that the caste census was crucial for framing policies aimed at targeted development of various communities, and the Centre had already initiated the process of conducting the caste census.

“We all welcome this initiative. Whenever the Prime Minister announces a programme, he ensures the benefits reach the people. I have full confidence that the Centre, under Mr. Modi, will deliver on the caste census as well,” said Mr. Yaduveer.

He referred to the socio-economic and educational survey conducted by the Congress in the State and said that its handling indicated that the State lacks competence and expertise to carry out such an exercise.

The Congress’ effort in the State spread over a decade, and was a drama, Mr. Yaduveer said, and questioned the competence and political will of the Congress in completing the exercise.

“More than ₹165 crore was wasted, and Congress leaders at the Centre told their Karnataka counterparts to drop the exercise. All India Congress Committee leaders, who are not even elected representatives, rejected it outright and instructed the State leadership that it should follow the Telangana model,” said Mr. Yaduveer.

Describing the caste census as a long-pending “legacy issue”, Mr. Yaduveer said that only the current Central leadership has the political will to resolve and implement it. He also urged the State government to drop its exercise, and said that there was no need to duplicate the efforts of the Centre.

BJP National OBC Morcha president K. Lakshman, who is also a Rajya Sabha MP, questioned Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his commitment to the OBC community. He cited historical events to claim that the Congress had let down the OBCs. ‘’Though three members of the Nehru-Gandhi family became the Prime Minister of this country, none of them supported the OBC cause,” said Mr. Lakshman. He said the first ever National Commission on OBCs led by Kaka Kalekar submitted a comprehensive report, but it was rejected by the Congress.

‘’It was V.P. Singh who implemented the Mandal Commission report with the support of the BJP, while the then leader of the Opposition Rajiv Gandhi spoke in the Parliament for more tan 90 minutes and opposed it,” Mr. Lakshman said.

BJP OBC Morcha leader Rahgu Kautilya, MLC A.H.Vishwanath, MLA T.S. Srivatsa, and others were present.