Conduct caste-based census in Jan 2008 :Athavale

Mumbai, Apr 30 (UNI) Republican Party of India chief Ramdas Athavale today demanded that a caste-based census be conducted in January 2008 to know the caste percentage among the population.

Talking to reporters here, he noted the last caste-based census was conducted in 1931 and subsequently it was not done to avoid the division on caste basis.

However, Mr Athavale said in the backdrop of the issues of reservations for OBCs, this should be done in 2008.

He said the economically weaker representatives of upper caste should also be given reservation and for the sake of social stability, the reservations should be given to OBCs even if the reservation level crosses 50 per cent level as allowed by the Supreme Court.

Mr Athavale advocated amendments in the constitution to work out all these changes.

UNI