Telangana's Caste Survey Faces Widespread Criticism

Hyderabad- The recently conducted caste survey by Telangana's Congress government has generated significant controversy, drawing criticism from multiple quarters including opposition parties and members within the ruling party itself.

The survey, aligned with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's principle of proportional representation ("Jis ki jitni abadi uska utna haq"), was intended to establish Telangana as a model state. However, the findings have instead created unexpected challenges for the ruling party.

A major point of contention is the reported decline in Backward Classes (BC) population. According to the survey, BCs now constitute 56.33 percent of the population (including Muslim BCs), down from 61 percent reported in a 2014 household survey under the previous BRS government. This decrease has prompted strong reactions from opposition parties, particularly the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The controversy intensified when Congress MLC Teenmaar Mallanna publicly burned a copy of the survey report, leading to disciplinary action but also amplifying doubts about the survey's accuracy. BRS working president K. T. Rama Rao challenged the findings in a letter to Rahul Gandhi, questioning how the BC population could drop from 1.85 crore (51 percent) in 2014 to 1.64 crore (46 percent) currently.

The inclusion of Muslims in BC categories has become another flashpoint. The survey indicates Muslims comprise 12.56 percent of Telangana's population, with over 10 percent classified as BCs. BJP leader Bandi Sanjay has criticized this categorization, viewing it as part of a broader strategy to diminish BC representation. The BJP continues to oppose the existing 4 percent reservation for Muslims in education and employment.

The survey's implications extend beyond demographics. The Congress government now faces pressure to fulfill its electoral promise of increasing BC reservation in local bodies to 42 percent from the current 23 percent. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy's statement about requiring constitutional amendments for reservations beyond 50 percent has drawn criticism from opposition parties.

Simultaneously, the government released recommendations from a Judicial Commission on SC sub-categorization, proposing three sub-categories for implementing the 15 percent SC reservation. However, Madiga community leader Manda Krishna Madiga has rejected these recommendations, demanding higher quotas based on population ratios.

The survey has also intensified demands for cabinet representation from various communities. Currently, the 12-member cabinet lacks Muslim representation and has limited representation from other communities, with two ministers each from OBCs and SCs, and one from ST. With six ministerial positions still vacant, various groups are advocating for greater inclusion.

The survey, which covered 96.9 percent of the population (3.54 crore people), revealed that Scheduled Castes constitute 17.43 percent, Scheduled Tribes 10.45 percent, and Other Castes 13.31 percent of the state's population. These findings have sparked fresh debates about representation and reservation policies in Telangana.