Caste census: Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah justifies creation of new caste categories

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday justified the creation of new caste categories in the upcoming caste census.

When his attention was drawn to the creation of new caste categories, Mr. Siddaramaiah said that the new castes were meant for people who had converted from one religion to another.

“However much one discourages conversion from one religion to another, people do convert in view of inequality in the society. If there had been equality and equal opportunities in Hindu society, why would people convert? Why did untouchability exist? Did we not create it? Inequality exists in Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity, and people do convert. That is their right,” the Chief Minister said.

Provocative speeches

Rejecting the BJP’s claims that the Congress government was indulging in “politics” by booking right-wing leaders following the Maddur stone-pelting incident, Mr. Siddaramaiah said that FIRs had been lodged against persons who were making provocative speeches.

Emphasising the importance of protecting peace in the society, the Chief Minister said that action has been taken against people making such statements.

“There is no politics involved in the matter,” he said, while ruling out charges that he was acting against Hindutva proponents. “Even I am a Hindu. Siddaramaiah denotes names of two Gods. While Sidda means Eshwara, Rama means Vishnu,” he said.

Responding to a question on the petition filed against the State government’s decision to invite Banu Mushtaq to inaugurate Dasara, the Chief Minister sought to make it clear that the festival does not belong to any one religion. “Culturally, people of all religions have been participating it and it is a State festival that is not limited to one faith. Everyone, irrespective of caste or religion, can participate in it,” he said.

With regard to a demand by certain organisations for action against Pratap Simha, former MP, for making inflammatory statements, Mr. Siddaramaiah said that the police will take necessary action against persons disrupting peace.

Compensation

Reacting to the BJP’s demand for increasing the compensation amount to victims of the road accident in Hassan, the Chief Minister said that the government provides compensation to the families of the deceased only as a consolation and the amount was not equal to the value of one’s life.

Mr. Siddaramaiah said that he had instructed Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda, who is also the Minister in charge of Hassan district, to meet the relatives of the deceased and announce the compensation. The government will provide a compensation of ₹5 lakh to the family members of each victim who had died in the tragedy, the Chief Minister added.