Categories
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw criticized the Congress and its INDIA alliance partners, accusing them of repeatedly using the caste census as a political tool. He further stated that previous UPA governments failed to carry out an official caste census and only conducted surveys instead.
Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, welcomed the government’s unexpected decision to include caste enumeration in the upcoming census, noting it comes after 11 years of resistance.
He also urged the government to provide a clear budget and timeline for implementation.
His remarks followed the Union Cabinet’s announcement that the upcoming census would include caste enumeration, promising it would be conducted in a ‘transparent’ manner.
Addressing a press conference, the Congress leader said, “We support this completely but we want a timeline. We want to know when it will be done.
Gandhi reiterated the call to remove the 50 per cent cap on reservations and emphasized the need to allocate funds for conducting a caste census. He welcomed the Union Cabinet’s announcement, describing it as a “first step,” and highlighted Telangana as a model state in successfully implementing the caste census.
In 2023, the Janata Dal (United), in partnership with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), conducted a caste census in Bihar. Expressing his support for a nationwide caste census, Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar welcomed the Centre’s announcement.
The Congress welcomed the government’s decision to include caste enumeration in the upcoming census, calling it “better late than never”caste and emphasizing that it had long been advocating for this move.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, during a cabinet briefing, took a jibe at the Congress, stating that the party and its INDIA alliance partners have repeatedly used the caste census as a political tool. He further criticized the previous UPA governments for failing to conduct a proper caste census, despite carrying out surveys.
READ ALSO….WAVES 2025 LIVE: Prime Minister Modi Arrives at Summit Location in BKC
Opposition parties, including the Congress, have time and again demanded a nationwide caste census, making it a major electoral issue. Bihar, Telangana, and Karnataka have already conducted caste-based surveys at the state level.
In a post on X, the Bihar CM congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the decision. He remarked, “Our long-standing demand for a caste census has been met. Conducting this census will provide an accurate count of people from various communities, which will aid in formulating effective plans for their upliftment and development. This step will accelerate the nation’s progress.
Akhilesh Yadav, the chief of the Samajwadi Party, hailed the outcome of the caste census as a “victory for India.” He credited his late father, Mulayam Singh Yadav, for his efforts in Parliament and acknowledged the contributions of “eminent thinkers of social justice and empowerment” whose relentless struggle played a crucial role in making this achievement possible.
