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Nitish Kumar to meet PM Modi on Monday to discuss caste-based census issue
Many political parties, including allies of ruling BJP, have raised the demand to hold a caste-based census. During the recently-concluded monsoon session of Parliament, the Congress asked the government why was it "quiet" and "running away" from holding the exercise.
Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday said that he will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday (August 23) to discuss the issue of conducting a caste-based census. Kumar's party Janata Dal (United) is an ally of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Bihar and is in favour of caste-based census.
"I had sought an appointment with the PM to meet him along with a delegation from Bihar to conduct the caste-based census. I thank him for giving us time on August 23," said Kumar's tweet translated from Hindi.
On Monday, during an interaction with mediapersons, Kumar said that he had been advocating the need for caste-based census across the country for a long time. “It was done separately between 2011-13, but the report did not come out. We want it to be with the Census at least once to have a clear picture, as it will help in planning and policy-making for they weaker sections,” the chief minister said.
The issue
Holding a caste-based census is a sensitive issue for the government in view of the assembly elections due in seven states next year. Many political parties have come together demanding a caste-based census.
During the recently-concluded monsoon session of Parliament, the Congress asked the government why was it "quiet" and "running away" from a caste-based census.
Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi raised the issue in the Rajya Sabha. The party said that such a census is required to assess the exact ground situation because in at least 30 states and Union territories, the reservation for backward classes has crossed the upper limit.
The parties in support of caste-based census
BJP allies such as the JD-U, Apna Dal and Republican Party of India-Athawale have raised the demand for holding a caste-based census. Many opposition parties such as the Congress, Nationalist Congress Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal and Samajwadi Party are also demanding that the exercise should be held.
Other parties such as the Biju Janata Dal have asked for a caste census, as have some BJP leaders, including Badaun MP Sanghamitra Maurya and national secretary Pankaja Munde.
What is the ruling BJP's stand on the issue
The BJP is carefully treading the path on the issue of caste-based census. People aware of the developments said that in view of the upcoming state polls, the BJP wants to prevent caste census from snowballing into an election issue.
The party is also keeping a watchful eye on the impact this demand will have with its allies, the people cited above said.
Officially, BJP spokesperson Bizay Sonkar Shastri downplayed the entire issue, saying that the party did not believe in caste-based politics.
