Socio-educational survey of backward castes will not be postponed: Siddaramaiah
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday asserted that the socio-educational survey of backward castes will not be postponed, amid claims of dissent within his cabinet.
He said the Backward Class Commission would decide how to conduct the survey.
Responding to questions by reporters about reports that some ministers opposed the survey and sought a postponement, Siddaramaiah said, "We won’t postpone it. The Backward Class Commission is a constitutionally formed statutory body. We cannot give it any direction. We will not postpone it. They have sought an opinion. It (commission) will decide."
Dismissing claims that ministers were unhappy with the survey, he added, "The BJP is doing politics… They are projecting the Congress government as anti-Hindu. I told ministers to condemn it and give a proper reply to them."
During Thursday’s cabinet meeting, no decision was taken on the survey, which is being projected as a caste census.
Sources said some ministers raised concerns over the inclusion of Vokkaliga Christians, Lingayat Christians, Vishwakarma Brahmin Christians, Ganiga Christians, and Madiwala Christians.
Meanwhile, Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje criticised the chief minister over the survey, alleging, "Whenever Siddaramaiah fails, he comes out with a weapon called caste."
Karandlaje alleged Siddaramaiah had tried to divide Lingayats and Veera Shaivas during his previous tenure from 2013 to 2018, including attempts to percolate the issue at the village level.
"Now again, Siddaramaiah has moved ahead to break all the castes. After trying to divide various sub-castes within Vokkaligas, Lingayats and Ganigas, Siddaramaiah has brought out Vokkaliga Christians, Lingayat Christians and Ganiga Christians. Why are you doing this? This conspiracy is to take away our quota," she alleged.
She added, "If someone is a Christian, then they should put it in that manner only, and I have no objection to it. Those who have converted from SC/ST and OBC should write themselves as Christians. They will get facilities under the minority category."
"There is an organised conspiracy to take away the reservation of SC/ST and OBC in favour of those converted to Christianity," Karandlaje claimed, urging people to oppose the move.
She further alleged, "The time has come for all the Hindus to unite by keeping aside all our castes and sub-castes, or else we will be divided and distributed among people. What the British had done, this Siddaramaiah government has the same British mentality. We will not let it happen."
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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.
