Priyank Kharge slams BJP over caste census demand, says Cabinet will decide
Kharge asks BJP to conduct caste census in states ruled by it before criticising Congress; says farm loan waiver will be considered after assessment, urges Centre to declare drought-hit areas
Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge on Thursday (July 9) said the state government will decide on the Social and Educational Survey report — widely referred to as the caste census — after discussing it in the Cabinet, and hit out at the opposition BJP for demanding that it be tabled in the upcoming legislature session.
He urged the BJP to take up the caste census in the states it rules and at the national level, before "preaching" to the ruling Congress in Karnataka.
The state home minister was responding to a question about the BJP urging the state government on Wednesday (July 8) to clarify its stand on the caste census report and to table it in the upcoming legislature session.
BJP state general secretary and MLA V Sunil Kumar said his party is ready to discuss the survey, on which more than Rs 450 crore of taxpayers' money was spent.
‘First conduct caste census in BJP-ruled states’
"The subject has not come before the Cabinet yet; once it comes, we will discuss it. Why is the BJP worried? Let them first conduct the caste census in all the BJP-ruled states like Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and also across the country. If they too support the slogan ‘jitni abadi, utna haq' (rights proportional to population), it is good," Priyank said.
Also Read: Congress accuses PM Modi of delaying caste census, wants clarity on details of exercise
Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, he said, "Let them (BJP) do it first and then let them preach to us."
Just ahead of stepping down as CM, Siddaramaiah received the much-awaited Social and Educational Survey report in May from the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes, headed by Madhusudan Naik.
‘Let BJP ask PM Modi for money’
Reacting to the BJP's demand that the Congress government immediately aid farmers affected by drought and floods in various parts of the state by providing immediate relief, and its demand for a farm loan waiver of up to Rs 50,000 per farmer, Priyank said, "Let them (BJP) ask the Centre to do it. Let them ask Prime Minister Narendra Modi to give the money. The states have to implement VB-G RAM G; we have to give money to centrally-sponsored schemes, to the Jal Jeevan Mission, and on top of that, if we also have to give the farm loan waiver, then what is the central government doing? What is the state government's responsibility versus the Centre's?" he asked.
‘Let them ask Centre to declare drought’
Pointing out that Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has clearly said the farm loan waiver will be considered after ground-truthing reports and data are gathered, the minister said, "If a loan waiver has to be announced, let's do it — who said no? But what is your (BJP's) cooperation or contribution to it? What are the central government and your MPs doing? Are they only there to listen to Mann Ki Baat?"
Also Read: Centre's nod to caste census: Significance and implications
The CM is visiting all regional headquarters, reviewing the drought situation, gathering reports and preparing documentation to declare drought-hit areas as per the central government's guidelines, Priyank said.
"Let them (BJP) ask the Centre to declare drought — why the delay? Instead of preaching to us, let state BJP leaders write to the Centre," he said.
(With agency inputs)