The Centre’s decision to include caste enumeration in the next Census was welcomed by both ruling and opposition parties on Wednesday.
Terming the decision “historic”, the NDA allies questioned why the former UPA government had “dragged its heels” over the matter. The INDIA bloc, which has been vociferously demanding a nationwide caste census, giving it pride of place in its 2024 Lok Sabha polls campaign, claimed it was a victory for their long-standing demand and sought time-bound implementation.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and Telugu Desam Party chief N said the decision reflected Prime Minister ’s “deep commitment to inclusive governance”.
“This landmark step will enable more precise, data-driven policies that address the needs of the marginalised communities in our country. Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas continues to evolve from principle to practice, strengthening the foundations of social justice in India,” he said.
Terming it a matter of “great happiness”, Bihar Chief Minister and (United) supremo said, “Our demand to conduct a caste census is an old one… It will make it easier to create plans for their (various sections) upliftment and development. This will accelerate the country’s development. For the decision to conduct a caste census, I offer my congratulations and thanks to the honorable Prime Minister, respected Narendra Modi.”
Union Minister and LJP chief said, “…My party and I had been demanding for a long time that a caste-based census be conducted in the country, and today this demand has been approved. For this, I express my heartfelt gratitude to the country’s popular Prime Minister… This step by the central government will bring a big change in the direction of the country’s inclusive development…”
Apna Dal (S) national president and MoS for Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Patel said, “Today, the misconceptions spread about caste census in the last few years have come to an end. This work was last done in the country in 1931. After 1947, the UPA government also got the opportunity but they did not take any concrete steps in this direction. But there is no difference between the words and actions of the Modi government.”
Leader of Opposition in and Congress president said the party “had continuously raised the demand for caste census, whose most vocal supporter was (LoP Lok Sabha) ”.
He alleged that Prime Minister Modi had been shying away from implementing this policy of social justice and had “falsely accused the opposition of dividing society”.
CPI(M) general secretary M A Baby welcomed the decision but stressed that it should be completed in a time-bound fashion.
“Wholeheartedly welcome the CCPA’s decision to conduct caste enumeration… However, the failure to declare its timing is regretted,” he said.
RJD chief Lalu Prasad said the “socialists” have been advocating caste census for the last 30 years. “When I was the national president of Janata Dal, our United Front government in decided in 1996-97 through the Cabinet to conduct a caste-based census in 2001, but the NDA government under Vajpayee later did not implement it…”
He said the first caste-based survey in country was done in Bihar during Mahagathbandhan’s 17-month government. “Those who called us casteists for demanding caste-based census have received a fitting reply. There is still much left to do. We will keep making these Sanghis dance to our agenda,” he said.
Leader of Opposition in Bihar and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav said, “Our ideological victory, our fight for social justice has now reached the next stage. What we do today, others will think of 35-40 years later. Now we will reserve seats for backward and extremely backward classes in the Legislative Assembly, Legislative Council, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha…”
SP chief termed the decision “INDIA’s victory” and also attributed it to the unity of the PDA (Picchda-Dalit-Adivasi) groups. “The decision of caste census is a 100% victory of the unity of 90% PDA. Due to the combined pressure of all of us, the government has been forced to take this decision… This is a warning to the BJP government to keep its electoral rigging away from the caste census… This is the first phase of a positive democratic movement for rights and the last phase of BJP’s negative politics…”
CPI (ML)’s Dipankar Bhattacharya said, “It is ridiculous for the Modi government to term the state-level surveys politically motivated while belatedly announcing its decision to include caste enumeration in the Census, which is already delayed by four years… (it) must take immediate steps to ensure implementation of the 65% reservation policy adopted by Bihar Assembly. Action, not empty rhetoric,” he said.
