Karnataka panel drops 57 Christian sub-castes from socio-educational survey

BENGALURU: Karnataka State Backward Classes Commission has removed 57 Christian sub-castes from the socio-educational survey beginning Monday, following objections from ministers, protests by SC/ST and OBC groups, and a suggestion by governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot.

The decision means the survey questionnaire will not list sub-castes. Enumerators using a mobile app between Sept 22 and Oct 7 will record such responses under "others". Officials said respondents may still disclose their original caste before conversion, but those entries will also be filed under "others".

CM Siddaramaiah asked the commission to exclude the names after the governor warned the list could deepen divides. Opposition BJP had objected, alleging the exercise could dilute the anti-conversion law and extend reservations to converted Christians.

"The new nomenclature will normalise conversion and encourage the gullible to convert without fear of losing caste identity," Karnataka BJP Minorities Morcha president Anil Thomas said Saturday.

Samajika Nyaya Jagriti Vedike president S Harish accused Congress govt of plotting "to integrate Christians into Hindu OBC communities" and of "labelling Hindu communities as Christians".

Backward classes welfare minister Shiavaraj Tangadagi countered that govt had not assigned labels: "During Kantharaju Commission survey, participants voluntarily identified themselves as such. The confusion was sorted out."

Siddaramaiah sought to cool tensions: "This survey is to capture social and educational backwardness of people and to find out their religion. If someone is a practising Christian, the person will be listed as Christian and not in terms of caste."

Congress is confident Karnataka's survey will follow Telangana's model, with no rollback on the broader policy.

(Inputs from New Delhi)

Select The Times of India as your preferred source on Google Search