‘Top UPA leaders backed caste census’

Reacting sharply to the government decision to refer the caste census issue to a Cabinet sub-committee,Janata Dal (United) president Sharad Yadav said here on Thursday that it is violative of the commitment given by top leadership of the UPA to him and leaders of other parties.

I would not name anyone,but it is a fact that we myself,Mulayam Singh Yadav (SP) and Gopinath Munde (BJP) were given an assurance by the top UPA leadership when Parliament was in session that caste would be recorded during census. He said they were told by the UPA leaders that they could not make an announcement immediately because the decision had to be taken by the Cabinet. It was in this backdrop that leaders of various parties had thanked the Prime Minister on the floor of the Lok Sabha.

Describing the latest Cabinet move as a delaying tactic,he wondered what was there for the Cabinet sub-committee to examine once members of the Lok Sabha,cutting across party-lines,had favoured the idea. As for differences among ministers,Yadav said there was nothing unusual about it because ministers do generally hold varying views on issues. The Prime Minister should invoke his prerogative and honour his commitment, he added.