A mochi (cobbler) at work
By Dheeraj Kumar*
Patna/New Delhi: Ahead of Bihar Assembly election, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA)-led Narendra Modi government sought to edge out the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and its Mahagathbandhan ally, the Congress party, on the issue of caste census by announcing today that caste enumeration will be part of the next census even as RJD chief Lalu Prasad asserted that it only showed how the “Centre was dancing to our agenda”.
The Modi government`s announcement comes at a time when the RJD and the Congress party are upping their ante against the NDA, particularly the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), by alleging that the saffron party was anti-reservation and hence was resisting the caste census at the national level.
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav has been consistently attacking the BJP and its allies, particularly the Janata Dal (United), for not putting amended reservation laws in the 9th schedule of the Constitution so that these laws are insulated from legal scrutiny.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also keeps demanding a caste census from the Centre at his public meetings across the country by describing it as “X-Ray and MRI for the society”.
Lalu’s Laugh: NDA Dances to RJD’s Caste Census Beat
After the Centre apparently sought to outwit the opposition Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) in their own game by announcing caste census, the RJD chief, Lalu, in his social media post claimed that the Centre`s decision on caste census only showed how Sanghis were dancing to their agenda.
The RJD chief said, “When I was the national president of Janata Dal, our United Front government in Delhi had decided in 1996-97 to conduct a caste census in the 2001 census, which was later not implemented by the [Atal Behari] Vajpayee government of the NDA.”
Nitish Nods, Lalu Mocks: Census Sparks Bihar Buzz
Lalu said, “We raised a strong demand in Parliament for a caste census again in the 2011 census. The first caste survey of the country was also conducted in Bihar during our 17-month-long Mahagathbandhan government. When we demanded a caste census, we got a befitting reply from those who called us casteist. There is still a lot left. We will keep making these Sanghis dance to our agenda.”
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, while supporting the Centre`s decision, commented on social media, saying, “The decision of the Central government to conduct a caste census is welcome. Our demand for conducting a caste census is old. It is a matter of great happiness that the central government has decided to conduct a caste census. “Conducting a caste census will reveal the number of people of different classes, which will help in making plans for their upliftment and development. This will accelerate the development of the country. Congratulations and thanks to the Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji for the decision to conduct a caste census.”
Tejashwi Taunts: Sanghis Follow RJD’s 40-Year Lead
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav said, “Our ideological victory, our fight for social justice, is now at the next stage. Whatever we do today, others think about it after 35-40 years. “Now we will reserve seats for the backward/most backward classes in Vidhan Sabha, Vidhan Parishad, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Many recommendations of the Mandal Commission are yet to be implemented. Long live social justice.”
Earlier today, the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs chaired by the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, decided to include caste enumeration in the upcoming census. “This demonstrates that the present government is committed to the holistic interests and values of the nation and society,” a Cabinet note stated.
As per Article 246 of the Constitution of India, the Census is a Union subject listed at 69 in the Union List in the Seventh Schedule. While some states have conducted surveys to enumerate castes, the Cabinet noted that these surveys have varied in transparency and intent, with some conducted purely from a political angle, creating doubts in society. “Considering all these circumstances, and to ensure that our social fabric does not come under political pressure, it has been decided that caste enumeration should be included in the main census instead of being conducted as a separate survey,” the note stated. It justified the move, stating this will ensure that society becomes stronger economically and socially, and the country’s progress continues without hindrance.
It is noteworthy that when a provision of 10 per cent reservation was made for the economically weaker sections of society, it did not create tension in any section of society, it pointed out.
It may be mentioned that caste was excluded from all census operations conducted since independence. In 2010, then Prime Minister Late Dr. Manmohan Singh assured the Lok Sabha that the matter of caste census would be considered in the Cabinet. A Group of Ministers was formed to deliberate on this subject, and most political parties recommended conducting a caste census. Despite this, the previous government opted for a survey instead of a caste census, known as the Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC).
*Senior journalist
