The issue of caste-based census has been gaining momentum in the country recently. The opposition parties are united in pressuring the government to conduct a caste-based census. This has led to a face-off between the government and opposition leaders. Now, former Deputy CM of Bihar and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav has made a statement supporting the caste-based census. He said that the demand for a caste-based census has been a long-standing one.
What Tejashwi Yadav Said in Support of Caste-Based Census
Tejashwi Yadav mentioned that when respected Lalu Prasad Yadav was the president of Janata Dal, this demand was already being made. As a result, the United Front government led by Janata Dal decided to include caste in the 2001 census during the 1996-97 period. However, when the BJP-led NDA government came to power in 1999, they reversed this decision. Nitish Kumar was also part of that NDA cabinet led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Census Not Conducted…
Tejashwi further stated that before the 2011 census, in 2010, Lalu Prasad and other prominent socialists strongly advocated for a caste-based census in Parliament. It was only after then-Prime Minister Manmohan Singh approved the caste-based survey and social-economic survey that Parliament functioned smoothly. The NDA/BJP government did not conduct the 2021 census, which was supposed to take place after 10 years. In just 17 months of our short tenure in Bihar, we conducted a caste-based survey and increased reservations accordingly.
Will Force Caste-Based Census
Tejashwi warned that if the NDA government under Prime Minister Modi does not conduct a caste-based census this time, the marginalized, oppressed, and deprived sections of society will not allow BJP leaders to enter their areas. He criticized the regional parties supporting BJP as spineless and without principles. He confidently stated that they would compel the government to conduct a caste-based census.
