Opposition Bloc INDIA Pushes for Caste Census, Puts BJP on Defensive
The INDIA bloc, believes it will help the alliance in the elections in the Hindi heartland, where caste politics plays a key role
New Delhi: The release of the caste census in Bihar has the Opposition bloc "INDIA" on the front foot. Taking the attack to the BJP, the Congress on Sunday questioned the silence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue of caste census. The INDIA bloc has made caste census one of the foremost issues in its campaign.
A day after the Ashok Gehlot-led Congress government issued an order for the conduct of a caste survey in Rajasthan, the party asked why the BJP-ruled states were not conducting them to ensure social justice and rights.
Meanwhile, on Saturday, Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah said a decision on the caste census in the state will be taken once he receives the report next month. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said when the "Bharat Jodo Yatra" was in Rajasthan, Rahul Gandhi had met delegations of many communities and during that time, the OBC delegations had specifically raised the demand for a caste census.
Mr Ramesh said: "Mr Gandhi took their words seriously. Now the Rajasthan government has decided to conduct a caste-based survey in accordance with their sentiments. This is a welcome step."
"This will especially help in making policies for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other backward classes. It is also important to ensure social justice and give rights to people as per their population," the Congress leader said while sharing the Rajasthan government's order on the caste survey.
"The question is why such initiatives are not being taken in any BJP-ruled state and why is the Prime Minister silent on the issue of caste census?" Mr Ramesh asked.
The Congress has been pushing for a caste census across the country and is making it a poll issue. Rajasthan will be the second state in the country to conduct a caste survey after Bihar. The Assembly polls in Rajasthan are due later this year and the election schedule is expected to be announced anytime soon. Other Opposition-ruled states are also contemplating a caste census in a bid to push the BJP on the backfoot.
A nationwide caste census is a key agenda of the Opposition INDIA bloc, which believes it will help the alliance in the forthcoming elections in the Hindi heartland, where caste politics plays a key role.