CM Siddaramaiah defends caste census, accuses BJP of wanting ''inequality to persist''
Bengaluru (PTI:) Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday defended the Social and Educational Survey—widely referred to as the "caste census"—underway in the state, asserting that the data from the survey will help ensure equality in society.
The CM also hit out at the opposition BJP, alleging that the party wants inequality to persist in society because it wants the supremacy of one community to continue.
"This is a Social and Educational Survey. There is inequality in society. To ensure equality, we need data regarding poverty, unemployment and illiteracy among people belonging to various castes. Only when we know this data can we ensure equality, as envisioned by Ambedkar," Siddaramaiah told reporters in response to a question.
He also took a dig at Union Minister and JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy for his reported statement that society will not benefit from the caste census.
The survey, being conducted by the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes, began on September 22 and is scheduled to continue until October 7.
Alleging that the BJP wants inequality to persist in society because they want one community's supremacy, the CM said, "They don't think about anything else."
"Why has the central government decided to do caste enumeration during the upcoming national census? They are doing it under pressure from us (Congress) and Rahul Gandhi," he claimed.
The BJP has accused the Congress of trying to divide Hindus through this caste census in the state. Some of its leaders, including Union Minister Pralhad Joshi and Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya, have even spoken about boycotting the exercise.
To a question on Kumaraswamy advising him not to confront the Centre, and to submit a proposal to the Union government seeking compensation for rain- and flood-related damages in the state, Siddaramaiah said, "Let Kumaraswamy ensure the compensation from the Centre; we will give the memorandum."
Welcoming Kumaraswamy's statement, he, however, pointed out that "in 2023, when there was a drought in the state, we had to go to the Supreme Court to get the compensation. The Centre gave compensation only after the Supreme Court’s orders".
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UP Cong holds statewide protest seeking probe into FIR against Swami Avimukteshwaranand
Lucknow (PTI): The Uttar Pradesh Congress on Wednesday staged a statewide protest demanding a fair and transparent inquiry into the FIR lodged against Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati and those who filed the complaint against him.
In a statement issued here, the party said memorandums addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi were submitted through district magistrates in all districts of the state.
Uttar Pradesh Congress spokesperson Manish Hindvi told PTI that the memorandums were handed over through the district administration in all 75 districts.
In the memorandum, the party alleged that Saraswati and his disciples were "unnecessarily harassed and humiliated" by police on the occasion of Amavasya and were prevented from taking a ritual bath (at the Magh Mela). It further alleged that some disciples were manhandled and taken to a police station.
The memorandum also claimed that an FIR was later registered against Saraswati, his disciple Swami Mukundanand Brahmachari and several unidentified persons in a sexual harassment case. It termed the case a "conspiracy" aimed at tarnishing the seer's reputation.
Citing Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution, the memorandum stated that these provisions guarantee religious freedom and the right of religious denominations to manage their own affairs.
It described the position of shankaracharya held by Saraswati as "one of the highest spiritual posts in Sanatan tradition" and alleged that the entire episode appeared to have been "orchestrated in a planned manner".
"We request that the background of the persons who got the FIR registered be investigated in a transparent manner by a retired high court judge and strict action be taken against them," the memorandum said.
It also sought a "fair and transparent probe" into the allegations levelled against Saraswati so that the truth could be established.
Earlier, Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Rai had told reporters in Varanasi after meeting Saraswati that the party stood firmly with him.
The Congress said it would continue to press for an impartial inquiry into the entire episode.
On February 21, an FIR was lodged in Prayagraj against Saraswati and his disciple Mukundanand Brahmachari on charges of sexually abusing two persons, including a minor, over the past year at a gurukul and religious congregations, including the recently concluded Magh Mela.
Days after he was booked, Saraswati had said on Monday that he would not oppose his arrest and asserted that the "fabricated story" would be exposed sooner or later.
At a press conference on Wednesday, Saraswati alleged that criminals rule in Uttar Pradesh, level allegations and influence investigations, as he denied having any contact with the two persons for whose alleged sexual abuse he has been booked.
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