In a surprising move, the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs has decided that caste must be included in the next census, shared Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.
It is indeed big news as there has been a lot of pressure from opposition Congress on BJP to carry out a census that includes caste. Many political parties have requested a caste census, said Vaishnaw.
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The Union Railway Minister commented that some state governments conducted caste census in a ‘political and non-transparent way’. Naturally, this was a direct jibe at the Karnataka and Telangana Congress governments that conducted caste census.
The Minister further said that the Congress and INDIA used it as a mere political tool. He said census and not surveys were ideal for the purpose. Census is a union subject, pointed out Vaishnaw.
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Taking social concerns into consideration and to ensure social fabric remains intact, the government has decided to go ahead with caste enumeration through official census, instead of fragmented state surveys.
This is to strengthen the economic and social fabric of the country while keeping it on the path of development, said Vaishnaw.
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It would help BJP and its NDA partners to come up with equitable and targeted policies, shared Vaishnaw.
The population census was to be carried out in 2026. Inclusion of caste is bound to appease various sections. However, some political analysts say the inclusion of caste will completely divert attention from the delimitation issue. It’s Center’s checkmate to the Congress and regional parties, they say.
AP CM Chandrababu Naidu has said that the move shows Modiji’s commitment to inclusive governance.
