By The Hindu Bureau
Copyright thehindu
Stating that people have not been enlightened on the socio-educational survey to be held from September 22 to October 7 and that there is confusion and contradictions over the categorisation of castes, the BJP on Wednesday urged the government to postpone the survey.
Addressing presspersons here, president of the Dakshina Kannada unit of the party Satish Kumpala and MLA for Mangaluru City South D. Vedavyasa Kamath said that the government should have given comprehensive information on the survey in advance. Many people are not aware about the survey.
The government should give enough breathing time for people to prepare and answer the 60 questions during the survey.
Mr. Kumpala claimed that teachers, anganwadi workers, and Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) do not have proper information on how to record the answers.
“Why has the government chosen Navaratri festival time for conducting the survey? Is it to deprive enumerators from participating in the festival?,” he asked, stating that the government should make it clear why the survey was being conducted in a hurry.
Objecting to 47 Christian ‘sub-castes’ listed in the draft list of castes to allow for recording original castes of people who have converted to Christianity — such as Kumbara Christians, Madiwala Christians, Nekara Christians, Brahmin Christians, Kuruba Christians, Lingayat Christians — Mr. Kumpala said that it would encourage religious conversion.
“This has created a lot of confusion among people,” he said, and alleged: “It is a hidden agenda of the State government to divide Hindus.”
Mr. Kumpala demanded that the word ‘Christian’ should be removed from the Hindu sub-castes.
Stickers removed
Mr. Kamath said that many people out of fear have already removed the survey stickers pasted in their houses by electricity meter readers. It is because the government did not give prior information to people on pasting the stickers and why they were meant for.
The MLA questioned U.T. Khader, Legislative Assembly Speaker and MLA for Mangaluru, on Wednesday holding a meeting in the city to discuss about the socio-educational survey.
“The meeting should have been held by district in-charge Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao. Why is the Speaker assuming the role of a Minister?” the MLA asked, and criticised Mr. Rao for not holding any meeting. “The Speaker should uphold the dignity of his chair,” Mr. Kamath said.
