Stressing the importance of a caste census in Uttar Pradesh, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday said if the state government wants, it can get the census done within three months with the use of technology. “With technology, if the government wants, a caste census can be done within three months. Everyone who uses a cell phone knows when you type a name all the details are available… With Aadhaar, the government has all the data. The government has information about bank accounts. There is no one who doesn’t have an Aadhaar card or a bank account. They count for themselves, but for employment, they are not doing it,” said Yadav, the Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly, addressing the concluding session of the party’s two-day 'Prashikshan Shivir' in Sitapur. The former chief minister said, “It is our responsibility that people in villages know the importance of a caste census”. The Prashikshan Shivir was part of the SP’s campaign for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, which the party has named “Lok Jagran Abhiyan”. “When we get a chance to get a caste census done, we will do it. Since we are not in the government, we are demanding from this government that a caste census must be done. Only after a caste census social justice and sabka saath, sabka vikas are possible,” said Akhilesh. Criticising the government over the law and order situation in the state, the former chief minister said, “Police have become thieves. A newspaper recently called police thieves. What can be more shameful for the government if a prominent paper and (news) channel say that police are thieves? If you see the action of the police, it is shameful. I had read the list in Lakhimpur that all 14,000 encounters in the state are fake. Can anyone imagine? Police have been given a free hand. They have not just been given a free hand for fake encounters, but also for extortion.” “When the programme at the (Naimisharanya) temple concluded, I spoke with people from the press. A new word has been coined by the BJP. They are saying I am following the path of soft Hindutva. Don’t panic, we have been soft forever. This soft issue won’t last. Now, we need to be hard,” said Akhilesh. Targeting the BJP over the “Tiffin Par Charcha” programme, Akhilesh said, “While we are sweating in the heat, BJP people are eating tiffin. How many people are here who took tiffin to school? It tastes good when you eat from another person’s tiffin.” Akhilesh had on Friday evening offered prayers at Naimisharanya temple in Sitapur.
