BJP wants Das commission on quota implemented without tweak

THE Opposition BJP on Tuesday demanded that the Karnataka Backward Classes Commission remove the names of 107 new castes published in its caste survey list.

- EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ Bengaluru

BJP MLA and former minister V Sunil Kumar said that the State Government has created 107 new castes that were never heard of before. Sunil said that the Commission has now geared up to conduct the socio-economic survey, popularly known as the caste census.

Sunil, accompanied by Bangalore Central MP PC Mohan and MLC N Ravi Kumar, met Commission Chairman Madhusudan R Naik and urged him to remove these names.

They said that these new castes are not in any caste list of the government or any commission.

The BJP leaders submitted a memorandum to Naik and later told reporters that the commission has published over 1,400 caste names and called for objections from the public. "There are many castes mentioned in the notification that no one has heard of in the past. For example, Kuruba Christian, Madiwala Christian, Vokkaliga Christian, and many such names. They have been given code names. This is unacceptable," the BJP leaders said.

Sunil said that the new caste names cannot be accepted and there are chances of people protesting against this. "We have heard about two to three sub-castes among Christians and Muslims. But prefixing Christian to Hindu castes is a sign of religion conversion. In the coming days, they may give reservations for these communities," Sunil said.

The BJP leader also requested the commission to give an acknowledgement letter for the survey to the residents.