"Siddaramaiah has no right to conduct a survey or census": BJP's Basavaraj Bommai

Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], September 16 (ANI): Following the Congress-led Karnataka government's decision to conduct a caste-based survey in the state, BJP leader Basavaraj Bommai on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, saying that he has "no right" to conduct a survey or census.
Speaking to reporters, Bommai further accused CM Siddaramaiah of creating a division in society.
"Siddaramaiah has no right to conduct a survey or census. They are trying to divide all the communities, including the Backward classes and the Veerashaiva-Lingayat community. This survey should be stopped. Siddaramaiah should stop this exercise to divide the communities..." Bommai told reporters.
On September 12, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced a significant caste survey initiative aimed at understanding the socio-educational status of the state's population.
The survey, led by Madhusudan Naik, Chairman of the Backward Classes (BC) Commission, along with five members, will cover approximately seven crore people. The Madhusudan Commission's survey is scheduled to be completed between September 22 and October 7, 2025.
Speaking to the reporters in Bengaluru, the Chief Minister stated that Madhusudan Naik and five other people will conduct the social-educational survey.
"We had to know the socio-educational status, we did this survey (caste survey)... Now Madhusudan (Chairman, BC Commission) and 5 members will conduct a survey to know the data of 7 crore people. The Madhusudan Commission's survey will be completed between September 22 and October 7, 2025," CM Siddaramaiah said.
The initiative aims to inform policies and interventions addressing social and educational disparities.
Karnataka BJP President BY Vijayendra also accused the Congress government and CM Siddaramaiah of dividing the society, particularly the Veerashaiva-Lingayat community.
"Senior BJP leader & former CM BS Yediyurappa ji had convened today's meeting with senior leaders of the party on the caste census the state is planning to carry out. Siddaramaiah's govt's agenda is to divide the Hindu religion, divide the Veerashaiva-Lingayat community. This is not the first time an attempt is being made. We have decided that in the interest of the Veerashaiva-Lingayat community, the state and the country, we have to move forward with more clarity,unitedly, and a proper direction has to be given to the entire community. Our senior leaders will be given the responsibility to speak to senior seers and gurus. We will ensure that our Veerashaiva-Lingayat community will be united...The Veerashaiva-Lingayat community is smart enough to understand Siddaramaih's agenda of dividing this community...It is our responsibility to educate people... the state government is going to conduct this caste census in the name of a survey," he said.
Earlier in June this year, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced the initiation of a new socio-educational survey. He said that, as per the law, it was necessary to conduct a fresh survey. (ANI)