Will continue to bat for caste census

AMID reports that the Narendra Modi government is likely to begin the process of conducting the long-delayed population census, its ally Janata Dal (U) said the party will continuously advocate the cause of 'caste census'. Though the Union government is likely to begin the census exercise next year and complete it by 2026, there is no clarity on conducting a caste-based census, a demand by opposition parties as well as the ruling NDA allies such as JD(U), TDP, Lok Janshakti Party, Republican Party of India (RPI) and Apna Dal.

- PREETHA NAIR

Speaking to this newspaper, former Rajya Sabha MP and JD(U) leader KC Tyagi said his party has consistently demanded a nationwide caste census. "I hope good sense prevails," he said. "However, we don't want any friction with the government. We are not going to withdraw our support on it," he said, adding that BJP's ideological mentor RSS is also of the view that caste census is an important tool to ensure the welfare of marginalized communities.

"We raised the demand for a caste census even when we were a BJP ally in Bihar and when not a part of the government. We are continuously advocating for this noble cause. We have conducted a caste survey in Bihar and shown the way," said Tyagi. The Bihar caste survey revealed that other backward and extremely backward classes constituted 63% of the state's population.