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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Live Updates
- 1 May 2025 12:49 PM IST
Telangana CM welcomes Centre's decision to conduct caste census
Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy welcomed the Centre’s decision to conduct a caste census, noting it was made under pressure.
He urged the government to form a committee of Union cabinet ministers and an expert panel to ensure a proper and thorough study, while emphasising that his government would not politicise the issue.
- 1 May 2025 12:40 PM IST
For Congress caste census was vote bank, but for BJP it is social justice: Tarun Chugh
BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh praised the Modi government for initiating the caste census, calling it an act of decisive leadership that Congress avoided for decades.
He said the move is aimed at the welfare of all communities, unlike Congress, which used caste census for vote bank politics.
Chugh also took a swipe at Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of seeking credit and ignoring past inaction on the issue.
- 1 May 2025 12:34 PM IST
Varanasi residents celebrate Centre's nod to caste census
Residents of Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi on Thursday (May 1) celebrated the Union Cabinet's approval for a caste-based census, hailing it as a "historic decision" and expressing their joy with the traditional playing of drums and smearing of gulal (coloured powder).
Locals gathered in various parts of the city, especially in Hukulganj and Pandeypur, to mark the occasion with festivities.
Citizens across the city were seen rejoicing, with many calling it a long-awaited measure that would pave the way for more inclusive policymaking.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had on Wednesday announced that the government had decided to include caste-based data in the upcoming national census in a "transparent manner." He stated that while the census is a central subject, some states had attempted caste surveys under different names.
- 1 May 2025 12:29 PM IST
Karnataka welcomes Centre's caste census move: DK Shivakumar
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has welcomed the Centre’s decision to conduct a caste census, stating that the Karnataka government fully supports the move.
He emphasised that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also endorsed the decision, reaffirming the party’s commitment to ensuring social justice for all sections of society.
Shivakumar added that Congress-led state governments are committed to cooperating in the caste census process.
- 1 May 2025 11:44 AM IST
CWC meeting on Friday to discuss govt's caste census move: Sources
The Congress Working Committee will meet on Friday to discuss the government's decision to include caste enumeration in the forthcoming census, sources said.
The Centre on Wednesday announced that caste enumeration will be part of the next population census, with the inclusion of caste details for the first time since independence.
Sources said a CWC meeting will be held at 4 PM at the party's 24, Akbar Road office on Friday to discuss the government decision and the way forward.
The CWC had also met last week on April 24 in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack.
- 1 May 2025 11:33 AM IST
‘World bows down’: Congress poster takes credit for decision about caste Census
A poster outside the Congress party headquarters in Delhi gives credit to former party president Rahul Gandhi for making the Modi government take the decision to include caste data in the next Census.
One day after the announcement by the Centre about the caste Census, Congress party leader BV Srinivas put up the poster claiming credit for Rahul Gandhi.
“We said Modi ji would have to get a caste Census done. We will get it done. The world bows down, you need someone to make it bow down,” reads the poster.
Both the Congress and the BJP are trying to take credit for the decision, with the former saying its push for a caste Census forced the government to take the decision while the BJP said Congress governments since Independence have always opposed caste census, and that it was only using it as a political tool.
After the announcement, Rahul Gandhi in a post on X wrote, “We said Modi ji would have to get a caste Census done. We will get it done. This is our vision, and we would ensure that the government gets a transparent and effective caste Census done. And everyone knows which sections have what partnership in the country’s institutions and power structure.”
