Manjhi seeks release of socio-economic caste census

Patna, Jul 14: A day after Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and RJD chief Lalu Prasad demanded release of the caste census figures, former Chief Minister and Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) chief Jitan Ram Manjhi also raised the demand for making public the socio-economic caste census.

"When a Commission was constituted for conducting census on the basis of caste and a survey took place, then what is the point of keeping it secret?" Manjhi said in a statement.

"The publication of the report would bring to light the population of SC/ST/OBC/Minorities/women and would help redraw budget in the welfare schemes meant for them," said Manjhi whose HAM has reached an in-principle alliance with BJP.

Irrespective of caste considerations, the report would bring out the truth as how many citizens are without roof and land, the HAM leader said. "Its not proper to link the census report with castes.

It would bring to fore the actual condition of different classes," the former Bihar Chief Minister added. Nitish Kumar had yesterday had taken a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi government by questioning the reason behind suppressing the data even as it was compiled on the basis of popular demand.

RJD President Lalu Prasad was also vocal in making the demand.

Prasad led a protest march in Patna on the issue yesterday and submitted a memorandum to Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi. The RJD chief also threatened to give a call for Bihar bandh on the issue.

PTI