The Indian government’s decision to include caste counting in the next census sparked a credit war between the BJP and Congress. Union Minister Vaishnaw’s announcement of the Cabinet’s approval led to both parties claiming credit, with the Congress swiftly joining the queue.
In a conversation with X, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh highlighted the party’s 2025 resolution on social justice passed at the AICC conference in Ahmedabad. Ramesh also mentioned Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge’s letter to PM Narendra Modi in 2023 requesting a caste count in the census. Kharge echoed Ramesh’s sentiment, emphasizing Congress’s persistent advocacy for a caste census, notably supported by Rahul Gandhi.
In response to Congress’s claims, BJP highlighted the party’s history of opposing a caste-based census. Amit Malviya stated that Gandhi should not take credit for the government’s decision, as Amit Shah had already indicated on September 18, 2024. In 2011, the Congress-led UPA government began the Socio-Economic and Caste Census, the first since 1931. However, the Congress did not release the caste data due to inconsistencies and classification issues.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju criticized the Congress for claiming credit for the decision on a caste census, questioning their change in stance after opposing such measures previously. Opposition parties push for a nationwide caste census as a major electoral topic, with states like Bihar, Telangana, and Karnataka already conducting similar surveys. The census, originally planned for April 2020, was delayed due to the pandemic.
Sources News From Various Digital Platforms, Websites, Journalists, And Agencies.
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