‘Reliable database essential for social justice’: Mallikarjun Kharge writes to PM Modi over decennial, caste census

"In the absence of an updated Caste Census, I am afraid a reliable data base so very essential for meaningful social justice and empowerment programmes, particularly for OBCs, is incomplete," Kharge said in the letter.

By: Express Web Desk

New Delhi | Updated: April 17, 2023 09:22 AM IST

3 min read

Mallikarjun Kharge noted in his letter that along with Congress MPs, members of other parties too have demanded a caste census in the Parliament. (Express file photo by Amit Mehra)

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Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, demanding that the decennial census be conducted immediately, with a comprehensive socio-economic caste census as its integral part.

“In the absence of an updated Caste Census, I am afraid a reliable database so very essential for meaningful social justice and empowerment programmes, particularly for OBCs, is incomplete,” Kharge said in the letter.

Kharge wrote that along with Congress, MPs from other parties have also demanded the census on various occasions in both Houses of the Parliament.

He also made note of the UPA government carrying out the first Socio Economic and Caste Census (SECC) in 2011-12, covering 25 crore households.

“For a number of reasons, however, the caste data could not get published even though Congress and other MPs demanded its release after your government came to power in May 2014.”

On Sunday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi asked the BJP government to release the caste-based data from the socio-economic and caste census conducted by the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government at his public rally in Karnataka’s Kolar. He also made a forceful push for the removal of the 50% cap on reservation for Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs).

“That census has the data of every caste in India. Modiji you talk about OBCs, then make that data public. Let it be known how many OBCs, Dalits, and tribals are there in the country. If everyone is to be involved in the country’s progress and be made equal partners, then we should know ‘kaun kitne hai (how many are there)’. So Modi ji, release the caste census data and let the people of the country know how many OBCs, Dalits, and tribals are there in the country. If you don’t do it, it will be an insult to the OBCs. You spoke about OBCs, show the country what the population of the OBCs is,” Gandhi said.

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