Bengaluru, 29 Sept

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday lashed out at BJP leaders who called for a boycott of the ongoing social, economic and educational survey in the State.

He said the State BJP leaders, one after another, are urging people to boycott the survey, exposing themselves before the public.

In a statement, Siddaramaiah said, "Our government began the survey to ensure equality. The moment we started, those shouting ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’ have revealed their true colours."

“The 'Manusmriti mindset' wants that wealth, opportunity, representation must remain frozen, the poor must remain poor, the backward must remain backward, women must be deprived, and inequality between castes and classes must continue. This is the inner thinking of BJP leaders,” he added.

The CM clarified that the survey being carried out by the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes was not restricted to any one community.

“This is a survey of the seven crore people of the State. It is not against anyone; it is in favour of everyone. The main objective is to create an egalitarian society,” he said.

He asserted that the survey would not only bring out the realities of Dalits, backward classes and minorities, but also reveal the condition of the poor and deprived within the so-called forward castes. “This reality is what the BJP does not want people to see”.

Earlier, BJP leaders such as Tejasvi Surya and Pralhad Joshi had urged people not to participate in the survey.