Oppn clamour for caste census grows ahead of 2024 parliamentary polls

The clamour for a caste-based census is growing with opposition parties, which are trying to come together to form a united front against the BJP, pressing the ruling dispensation over the issue, ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

The Congress, Janata Dal-United (JDU), Samajwadi Party and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) have urged the government to release the caste census and announce reservations for Dalits and tribals based on their population.

Addressing a rally in Karnataka, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday reiterated that the caste census should be made public so that OBCs are given better representation and that Dalits and Adivasis are given reservations proportionate to their population in the country.

Gandhi urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to release the caste-based OBC categorisation data of 2011 census in the public domain and provide reservation based on population.

"If the Prime Minister cares about OBC in the country, the first step would be to release data of the OBC census. Will the PM do that? No, because he doesn't want the welfare of OBCs," said Gandhi.
He promised that if voted to power, Congress would conduct a caste-based census.

The same day, Congress national president Mallikarjuna Kharge shot a letter to the Prime Minister asking for a comprehensive up-to-date caste census. "In the absence of an updated Caste Census, I am afraid a reliable database so very essential for meaningful social justice and empowerment programs, particularly for OBCs, is incomplete. This Census is the responsibility of the Union Government," he said.

"I would also like to point out that the regular decennial Census was to be carried out in 2021 but it has not yet been conducted. We demand that it be done immediately and that a comprehensive Caste Census be made its integral part," Kharge added in the letter.

Bihar Chief Minister and JDU chief Nitish Kumar, who has been vocal about caste census, backed Congress' demand. "We have been in favour of the caste census right from the very beginning. When the Central government refused to do so, we decided to conduct the caste survey on our own. It is going on in the State. The exercise will provide data to the government for carrying out works for the benefit of weaker sections of the society," Kumar told reporters in Patna.

Similarly, RJD leader Tejashvi Yadav too batted for caste-based reservation and said that it should not be limited to Bihar only but should be there for the whole country.