Pan-India caste census in Cong's LS election pitch

The Congress will conduct a nationwide caste census if voted to power and implement 33% quota for women in Lok Sabha and state assemblies at the earliest, the party's highest decision-making announced on Monday, with senior leader Rahul Gandhi saying a caste-based headcount was a progressive and powerful step to emancipate poor people.

- Saptarshi Das

At a meeting in New Delhi, the Congress Working Committee (CWC) also promised removal of the 50% reservation cap through a legislation to ensure reservation to OBCs, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in line with their share of population.

Addressing a press conference after the meeting, the former Congress president attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that the latter was incapable of conducting a caste census.

"The CWC has unanimously supported the idea of a caste census in the country. It is a progressive, historic and powerful step for the emancipation of the poor people in our country," Gandhi said, adding that a caste census is the X-ray of India.