Parties' views sought on caste census: Pranab

Admitting to divergent views in the ministerial panel on caste-based census, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee today said the central government will write to different political parties to get their views on the issue.

Admitting to divergent views in the ministerial panel on caste-based census, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday said the central government will write to different political parties to get their views on the issue.

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Speaking to reporters in Chennai after meeting Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, Mukherjee said: "The census is currently on. At the Group of Ministers (GoM) meeting, divergent views were expressed on a caste-based census. It is necessary to ascertain the views of various political parties."

He said he also discussed the direct tax code and the goods and services tax (GST) with Karunanidhi.

An empowered committee of state finance ministers is working on GST. The committee is expected to meet July 21 in New Delhi.