Conduct Caste Census on Telangana Model: Cong OBC Council to Centre

Siddu calls Rahul 'justice warrior' for forcing Centre to announce caste enumeration

- EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @Bengaluru

AT the inaugural meeting of the All-India Congress Committee (AICC) OBC Advisory Council, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah declared the proceedings a "resounding success," describing it as a significant milestone in the Congress' ongoing commitment to social justice.

The event marked the adoption of the Bengaluru Declaration, a document outlining the Congress' policy roadmap for empowering backward classes and marginalized communities across India.

The committee called for a nationwide caste census to be conducted by the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India (ORGI), modeled on Telangana's SEEEP Caste Survey. While Karnataka's Kantharaj Commission faced criticism—particularly from Lingayat and Vokkaliga communities—for lacking scientific robustness, the Telangana model has been praised for including extensive socioeconomic, educational, and occupational parameters.

The Congress leadership emphasized that such a survey must go beyond mere enumeration and function as a tool to address systemic inequalities across communities.