Caste Census LIVE: Govt gave headline but where is deadline, questions Congress
Jairam Ramesh said many questions arise about the decision, especially on the intention of the government, and asked "where is the deadline" for conducting the census
The Congress on Thursday (May 1) claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the "master of giving a headline without a deadline" and called the government's caste census decision a "diversionary tactic" in the face of demands for taking strong action against Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack.
Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said many questions arise about the decision, especially on the intention of the government, and asked "where is the deadline" for conducting the census.
Taking a swipe at the prime minister while addressing the media at the party's 24, Akbar Road office in Delhi, Ramesh said he is the "master at giving a headline without a deadline". He also said the BJP government agreeing to a caste census reflected their "moral and political defeat".
Meanwhile, in Bengaluru, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge also urged for the allocation of sufficient funds and the fixing of a time limit for the caste enumeration in the next census, which has been announced by the Central government. He said, “They should also give a time limit. If there is no time limit, it will take a long time.”
First time since independence
In a surprising yet significant move, the Narendra Modi government on Wednesday (April 30) announced that caste enumeration will be part of the next population census, with the inclusion of caste details for the first time since independence.The decision taken by the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs(CCPA) at its meeting in Delhi, presided over by Prime Minister Modi, comes ahead of assembly elections in Bihar, where caste is a key political issue and several parties, including some BJP allies have been coming out in support of the caste census.
While the Centre’s decision was hailed by the BJP and its allies as a “historic” step to help design “truly equitable and focused” policies, Opposition parties called it a victory for their long-standing demand and claimed that the BJP has been compelled to bow to the will of the majority.
The Congress and other opposition parties have been vociferously demanding a nationwide caste census, making it a major election issue, and some states like Bihar, Telangana and Karnataka have conducted such surveys.
Read The Federal’s stories on Caste Census
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'F-word' strategy? What drove Rahul to dub Bihar’s caste survey as fake
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Rahul is right; caste reform is only viable path for Congress' future
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Live Updates
- 1 May 2025 3:12 PM IST
BJP has announced the caste census keeping the Bihar election in mind: Siddaramaiah
Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah welcomed the Centre’s decision to conduct a caste census alongside the general census.
He praised Rahul Gandhi for persistently bringing up the issue with the central government over the years and pointed out that it was included in the Congress manifesto.
Siddaramaiah added that the Centre’s urgency in announcing the move may be linked to the upcoming Bihar election.
- 1 May 2025 2:56 PM IST
Caste census should be conducted with complete honesty: Abu Azmi
Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi credited Akhilesh Yadav and Rahul Gandhi for pushing the government to accept the caste census.
He emphasised that the census should be conducted promptly and with complete honesty, ensuring accurate data.
Azmi added that only if every person is treated equally based on the results will he consider the exercise a success.
- 1 May 2025 1:17 PM IST
Congress focuses on votes, not public welfare: Shivraj Chouhan
Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan endorsed the Centre’s caste census decision, calling it essential for formulating effective social welfare policies and ensuring social justice.
He accused Rahul Gandhi of trying to claim credit and questioned why Congress failed to implement a caste census when in power.
Chouhan also criticised Congress for opposing caste-based reservations and claimed the party focuses solely on vote-bank politics and spreading falsehood.
- 1 May 2025 12:58 PM IST
Prime Minister takes the right decisions at the right time: Chirag Paswan
Union Minister Chirag Paswan criticised Rahul Gandhi for trying to claim credit for the Centre’s caste census decision, pointing out that Congress and the Gandhi family were in power for decades but failed to implement the caste census
Paswan said the Modi government fulfilled this long-pending demand at the right time, dismissing opposition claims that the move was taken in view of the upcoming Bihar elections.
