Kalaburagi, 17 Sept 

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday said the decision to include any community under the Scheduled Tribes (ST) list rests with Centre and the State government can only send recommendations.

The State government is currently mulling inclusion of the Kurubas, the community to which Siddaramaiah belongs, under the ST list. 

"This (move) was done during the previous government itself. The central government will decide. We (State) will only make recommendations," Siddaramaiah said in response to a question on members of the Valmiki community opposing the proposal.

Speaking to the press in Kalaburagi, he said, "There is no need for anyone to oppose. If the community has to come under ST, they will be included. If not, they will not be."

Kurubas are currently listed as Other Backward Classes (OBC) category. They are seen as a dominant OBC community in the state after the Lingayats and Vokkaligas.

To add any community to ST list, a recommendation has to be made by the state government to the Centre.

The state's Social and Educational Survey, popularly known as the 'caste census' will be conducted between 22 September and 7 October at an estimated cost of Rs 420 crore.

On the BJP delegation complaining to the Governor, regarding the caste census having at least 46 castes with dual identities (having Christian and Hindu caste name), the CM said, "Are they not citizens of this country? Are Christians and Muslims not citizens? Whatever people say their caste is--to the enumerators during the enumeration--it will be entered accordingly."

Highlighting that castes with dual identities like 'Kuruba Christian', 'Brahmin Christian', 'Vokkaliga Christian' among others, may lead to confusion and give opportunity for a large-scale religious conversion, the BJP on Tuesday urged the Governor to intervene and issue necessary instructions to the government.