Mallikarjun Kharge writes to Prime Minister Modi regarding the decennial caste census, stating that a reliable database is essential for social justice.
The president of the Congress, Mallikarjun Kharge, demanded in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the decennial census be conducted promptly alongside a comprehensive socio-economic caste census.
Kharge wrote in the letter, “In the absence of an updated Caste Census, I fear a reliable database so essential for meaningful social justice and empowerment programmes, particularly for OBCs, is incomplete.”
Kharge wrote that in addition to the Congress, MPs from other parties have repeatedly requested the census in both houses of Parliament.
In 2011-12, the UPA administration conducted the first Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC), which covered 25 crore households.
“However, the caste data could not be published for a variety of reasons, despite Congress and other MPs demanding its release after your government took office in May 2014.”
On Sunday at his public rally in Kolar, Karnataka, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi urged the BJP government to disclose the caste-based data from the socio-economic and caste census conducted by the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government. He also vigorously advocated for the removal of the 50% reservation limit for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes.
“This census contains information on every caste in India. If you discuss OBCs, Modiji, then make this information public. Indicate the number of OBCs, Dalits, and tribals in the country. If everyone is to participate in the country’s progress and be treated as equals, we must know “kaun kitne hai” (how many there are). So, Modi ji, please disclose the caste census data and inform the nation’s citizens of the number of OBCs, Dalits, and tribals. If you do not do it, the OBCs will be insulted. You spoke about OBCs, so show the country how many OBCs there are,” Gandhi said.
