JD(U): Centre non-committal on caste census

On July 20, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai had told Parliament that the government had directed it as a policy matter not to enumerate caste-wise population other than SC/ STs.

Tyagi said the party would take up the matter strongly at its national executive on July 31 in Delhi.

“All social justice parties have been unanimous on its demand of caste census. Weaker segments within the BJP also want it. But the Narendra Modi government has not yet lived up to our expectation on the matter. What should hold us back from knowing if the benefits of reservation and social welfare are reaching the weaker sections and which segment is getting how much benefit?” said Tyagi, adding that the Nitish Kumar government had got a proposal passed in the Bihar legislature on the caste census demand long ago.

BJP national spokesperson Guru Prakash Paswan, however, said: “When we say ‘Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas and Sabka Vishvas’, it is not just a slogan but a commitment. Apart from development initiatives, the party has ensured dignity to every section of society by ensuring adequate representation in places that matter. The social diversity in the council of ministers is indicative of that”.

Bihar’s principal Opposition party, RJD, is on the same page as JD(U) on the issue.

The RJD, too, has mounted pressure on the BJP over implementation of caste census. Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Prasad Yadav tweeted: “BJP does not care for OBC and EBC Hindus’ social, educational, political and economic development and equality. BJP makes policies that create inequality and division among social groups so that majority population can be kept on margins out of being deprived.”