Bihar CM Nitish Kumar Calls All-Party Meet To Discuss Caste Census Results

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar convened an all-party meeting on Tuesday to discuss the newly released caste census report, which was released on October 2. The meeting is expected to involve representatives from nine political parties and will involve a comprehensive deliberation on the report's findings.

Kumar expressed his commitment to taking necessary actions based on the suggestions put forth during the meeting. He stated, "The report has been the result of extensive efforts, examining the financial status of every family. Tomorrow, during the all-party gathering, we will present the report to all. The government will proceed by considering everyone's input," as reported by the news agency ANI.

Earlier in the day, Nitish Kumar praised the entire team responsible for conducting the caste-based enumeration, emphasizing that the survey not only identified different castes but also provided insights into the economic conditions of individuals.

Kumar highlighted the significance of the caste census, underscoring that this undertaking, unique to Bihar, is a crucial step towards the state's development and the advancement of all castes. He acknowledged that many had attempted to obstruct the census, but their efforts proved unsuccessful.

On the other hand, the Opposition BJP in Bihar expressed dissatisfaction with the Nitish Kumar government's caste survey, claiming it failed to account for "evolving social and economic dynamics" over the years.

Union Minister Giriraj Singh criticized the report, contending that it is creating confusion among the general public and may exacerbate divisions. He suggested that instead of the report, Nitish Kumar should present his administration's accomplishments, including job creation and employment opportunities.

State BJP President Samrat Choudhary indicated that the party had consented to the survey and would issue a statement after analyzing the findings. He also stressed the need for the survey to consider changing social and economic conditions.

The caste census report, released by the Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government, disclosed that OBCs and EBCs together make up a substantial 63 percent of the state's total population. The state's overall population stands at just over 13.07 crore, with 27.13 percent belonging to Backward classes, 36.01 percent to Extremely Backward Classes, and 15.52 percent to the General category. The report also indicates that 19 percent of the population belongs to Scheduled Castes.

The survey further reveals that Yadavs, the OBC group to which Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav belongs, constitute the largest segment, comprising 14.27 percent of the total population.