Karnataka Guv warns CM Siddaramaiah against including Christian identifiers in caste survey
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot has cautioned Chief Minister Siddaramaiah against including Christian identifiers with caste names like ‘Kumbara Christian’, ‘Kuruba Christian’ in the upcoming caste survey, saying it could cause "social disturbance, long term complications and irreparable damage" to the social fabric of the state.
In his letter to Siddaramaiah on September 16, Gehlot urged the CM to re-examine the issue.
The Governor said a contingent of BJP MPs and legislators met him and brought to his attention their concerns and objections to the Karnataka government's proposed caste-based educational and social survey.
“The written objections of the contingent elaborating certain contradictory issues and inclusion of Christian identifiers like ‘Kumbara Christian’, ‘Kuruba Christian’ and glaring and concerning issues of illegal infiltrators in the residency of the State have been brought to my notice,” he said.
The BJP delegation requested him to advise the government against proceeding with this “flawed and divisive exercise”.
“It is noticed that the use of such Christian identifiers and nomenclatures are not seen in any of the caste lists of the state and as per my knowledge, there is no such case identities in the Christian religion, so the above move of the State Government giving caste identity in the Christian religion may cause social disturbance, long term complications and irreparable damage to the social fabric of the State,” the Governor said.
He urged the CM to revisit the issue, stressing the need to safeguard the state's social structure while considering the long-term implications of such measures.
The Karnataka government will conduct the caste census from September 22 to October 7, at an estimated cost of Rs 420 crore.
The BJP had called it a "divisive move" and appealed to people to write Hindu instead of their sects in the religion column.
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Om Birla attends swearing-in of new B'desh PM, says India stands ready to support BNP govt
New Delhi (PTI): Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday attended the swearing-in ceremony of new Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in Dhaka, and said India stands ready to support Bangladesh's endeavours to build a democratic, progressive and inclusive nation.
Separately, the speaker called on the new Bangladesh prime minister and conveyed the wishes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He also handed over an invitation from Prime Minister Modi to Rahman to visit India, officials said here.
“Glad to attend the swearing-in ceremony of the new government of Bangladesh led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in Dhaka today. India stands ready to support Bangladesh’s endeavours to build a democratic, progressive and inclusive nation,” Birla posted on X.
Bangladesh High Commissioner to India, Riaz Hamidullah, said in a post on X, “Prime Minister Tarique Rahman conveys his greetings to India and PM Narendra Modi to the visiting India Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla at a courtesy meet following the swearing-in of the new government.
“Speaker Birla conveyed wishes and an invitation to India. Both leaders expressed optimism to work together for the well-being of the people of Bangladesh and India, pursuing a people-centric menu of cooperation.”
Birla also met Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay and other leaders on the sidelines of the event.
Led by Rahman, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) swept to power with a two-thirds majority with 49.97 per cent votes and 209 seats in the polls held on February 12, results for which were declared on February 13.
The Jamaat-e-Islami, which was opposed to Bangladesh's independence from Pakistan in 1971, registered its best-ever performance with 31.76 per cent votes and 68 seats.
The National Citizen Party (NCP) secured the third-highest number of seats, six, and 3.05 per cent votes.
Bangladesh had invited Narendra Modi to the ceremony, but the prime minister could not attend the event as he was scheduled to hold talks with French President Emmanuel Macron in Mumbai on Tuesday.
On reaching Dhaka, Birla said the swearing-in of Rahman was an important moment that would strengthen people-to-people relations and shared democratic values between the two neighbours.
“Honoured to be in Dhaka representing India at the swearing-in ceremony of the new government led by Tarique Rahman as the prime minister. It's an important moment that will strengthen people-to-people ties and shared democratic values between our two nations,” Birla said.
Birla was accompanied by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and other officials.
