The Congress on Sunday asserted that a caste census is the only way to ensure equal opportunity for all in the country.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said caste has been a socio-economic reality of Indian society for centuries. “We cannot deny caste-based discrimination in India and the disadvantages imposed by caste at birth,” he said in a post on X.

“To make the distribution of economic growth more equitable, we need a survey of the ownership of assets and the representation of people in the institutions of our democracy,” Jairam Ramesh said.

Therefore, what is needed is a caste census combined with a survey of national assets and governance systems, which is updated from time to time, he asserted in the post on X.

“This survey of caste groups, national assets, and representation in governance systems — collectively called a comprehensive socio-economic caste census — is the only solution to ensure an India with equal opportunity for all,” the Congress leader said using the hashtag “Ginti Karo”.

Why is the Caste Census a necessity?

1. Caste is a socioeconomic reality of Indian society and has been for centuries. We cannot deny caste-based discrimination in India and the disadvantages imposed by caste at birth.

2. ⁠The caste category in the Census was done away with,… https://t.co/Xl13kBTHnd

— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) March 24, 2024

He claimed that the caste category in the Census was done away with, except for those pertaining to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, beginning with the 1951 Census.

“This was considered necessary given the challenges faced by a newly independent country. The last such Census due in 2021 has been repeatedly put off by the Modi Government — so we are currently lacking the latest data even for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes,” Ramesh said on X.

In a post on X, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge explained the reason behind announcing “Hissedari Nyay” (Participatory Justice) as part of its promises to people ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.

“India’s richest 1 per cent enjoy 22.6 per cent of national income, more than during the British Raj, while the poorest 50 per cent get only 15 per cent of national income. This has happened only in the last 10 years of the Modi government,” he said.

Mallikarjun Kharge claimed that the net worth of billionaires grew by more than 280 per cent between 2014 and 2022, which is 10 times the growth rate of national income during the same period.

On the other hand, about 34 per cent of households in India earn less than the proposed national level minimum wage of Rs 375 per day, he said.

“Therefore, the Congress Party, under ‘Hissedari Nyay’ (Participatory Justice) guarantees a comprehensive social, economic and caste census. Through this, the population, socio-economic condition of all castes and communities, their share in the national wealth and their representation in the institutions related to governance and administration will be surveyed.

“This affirmative action policy will bring revolutionary change in the country. Hand (Congress’ poll symbol) will change the situation,” Mallikarjun Kharge said in a post in Hindi on X.

Jairam Ramesh, in his post on X, said the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) covering 25 crore households was conducted in 2011 and it collected data on caste and socio-economic parameters relating to these households.

The socio-economic data is used now for welfare programs but the caste data never got published by the Narendra Modi Government, he said.

“Over the past three decades, reservations in education and employment in the government and the public sector have come to cover not only Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, but also the Other Backward Classes and Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) of general castes. But we are currently lacking data on the different groups that are covered under these categories, and their respective populations.” Jairam Ramesh said the government cannot plan for social justice without such data on the population in each of these categories. “That is why a caste census becomes necessary. It is also essential to ensure more equitable distribution of reservation benefits within the reserved categories,” he said.

“Going beyond the population of each caste grouping, the real question we hope to answer is who benefits from fast economic development, and who bears its costs. Our experience shows that the benefits of growth in India are inequitably distributed,” Jairam Ramesh asserted.

The Congress has been seeking a nationwide caste census for some time now to ensure equal opportunities to all as per their population. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Fresh cracks have appeared within the Congress over its flagship caste census demand at a national level with a senior leader claiming the party never endorsed identity politics.

A demand for caste census may be misinterpreted as disrespecting the party’s former leaders and former prime ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, Anand Sharma said in a letter to party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, which was shared by news agency IANS.

Mr Sharma recalled Mrs Gandhi’s clarion call of 1980, “Na jaat par na paat par, mohar lagegi Haath par“, to point out the historic stand of the Congress on caste. He also pointed out that in 1990, Rajiv Gandhi had opposed making castesim an electoral factor.

“Departure from the historic position is a matter of concern for many Congress men and women across the country. It calls for reflection. In my humble opinion, this will be misconstrued as disrespecting the legacy of Indira ji and Rajiv ji,” said Mr Sharma.

Caste census, one of the major demands of the Congress, has been carried out only in Congress-ruled Karnataka and Bihar, where the party held power in an alliance with the RJD. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has promised a nationwide caste census if the opposition’s INDIA bloc forms government at the centre.

Mr Sharma, a lifelong Congress member, said while some alliance members of the party have pursued caste-based politics for long, “the Congress policy on social justice is based on a mature and informed understanding of the complexities of Indian society.”

Indore, Madhya Pradesh:

The Congress will not profit politically from its demand for caste census in the country, Union Minister Ramdas Athawale said on Sunday.

People know the Congress did not undertake such an exercise when it was in power at the Centre, Mr Athawale added.

“When the Congress was in power at the Centre it never went for caste based census. But now their leaders Rahul Gandhi are seeking it,” the Union minister of state for social justice and empowerment told PTI.

The Gandhi siblings have been demanding a Bihar-like caste census across the country claiming it would ensure SCs, STs and OBCs get justice.

“Congress will not profit politically from caste census as people know the party did not undertake this exercise when it was in power,” The RPI(A) chiefsaid.

Article 17 of the Constitution has a provision for eradication of casteism and, therefore, the government would face a problem in carrying out a caste census, he claimed.

Assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh will take place on November 17, while results will be declared on December 3. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Hyderabad:

AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi has sought to know why the BJP does not get “Backward Classes caste census” conducted if it was so concerned about the community.

The statement comes a day after Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced at a rally in Suryapet to make a Backward Class (BC) leader as Chief Minister of Telangana if the BJP was voted to power after the November 30 assembly polls in the state.

Addressing a public meeting at Zaheerabad on Friday night Mr Owaisi called BJP and Congress twins and said the two parties will not be successful in the Telangana assembly polls.

“Amit Shah sahab, I am telling you with responsibility. You and Congress have become ‘oule zoule bhai-behan’ (twins). Nothing is going to happen for you people (in favour of) in Telangana. It will be ‘bye, bye’ for you,” he said.

“I would like to ask Amit Shah. If you are so sympathetic towards backward class, why you don’t get BC census conducted,” he said.

Neither PM Narendra Modi nor Congress leader Rahul Gandhi supported his demand for sub quota for OBC and Muslim women in the women’s reservation bill passed in Parliament, Mr Owaisi claimed.

Referring to former MLA Komatireddy Raj Gopal Reddy, who returned to Congress after quitting BJP this week, he wondered whether Congress has become a “washing machine”. Owaisi, however, did not mention Raj Gopal Reddy’s name.

Reacting to Rahul Gandhi’s comments about AIMIM having a tacit understanding with the BJP, the AIMIM leader asked how did Rahul Gandhi lose in Amethi Lok Sabha constituency in Uttar Pradesh in the 2019 elections.

Congress and BJP were in direct contest in 185 seats in 2019 but former won in only 16 and he (Owaisi) had no role to play there, he said.

“How did you (Congress) lose there?” he asked.

Mr Owaisi reiterated his appeal to support ‘mamu’ (BRS president and Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao) where AIMIM is not in the fray in the polls.

“Now, it is known from Zaheerabad and Munugode (where Raj Gopal Reddy lost bypoll on BJP ticket last year) that both BJP and Congress are ‘oule, zoule bhai (twins),” he said.

He also spoke about a book given to him titled ‘Congress is mother of RSS’.

Mr Owaisi stressed that people will be given importance wherever regional parties are in power.

“If they both (national parties BJP and Congress) come to power, then there will not be anyone to address your problems,” he said.
 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

The Congress Working Committee has unanimously endorsed a call for caste census at a meeting held today. Sources said the initiative was of Rahul Gandhi  who in an address to the party later, said the INDIA bloc will “put pressure on the BJP to conduct this”.

The Prime Minister, Mr Gandhi said, is “shying away” but the conduction of a caste census does not depend on him.

“This is not a political decision. This is a decision for providing justice to the downtrodden… Litmus tests work in chemistry, not in politics. We are promising caste census because we sincerely believe in it,” he added.

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said the party has consistently raised its demand for a nationwide caste-based census. The demand has gained widespread public support especially after the Bihar government’s release of a caste survey.

“For proper implementation and delivery of government programmes and welfare schemes, it is important that we have scientific socio-economic data of the marginalised sections including their numbers, representation, and economic and social condition. Thus, it becomes important that we must deliberate upon the issue of Caste-based Census,” he said.   

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Mumbai:

Amid all the bonhomie on display, the third meeting of the INDIA alliance also saw one of the first major differences emerge between the opposition parties since they decided to band together in June. 

While an election resolution was adopted at the Mumbai meeting, a political resolution had to be dropped after a disagreement over the inclusion of a demand for a caste census, sources told NDTV. 

While the Janata Dal (United), Samajwadi Party and Rashtriya Janata Dal pushed for the caste census demand, the charge against it was led by West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, the sources said. 

Interestingly, after the second meeting of the alliance in July, the ‘samuhik sankalp’ (joint resolution) had specifically called for the implementation of the caste census. 

“We have come together to defeat the hatred and violence being manufactured against minorities; stop the rising crimes against women, Dalits, adivasis and Kashmiri Pandits; demand a fair hearing for all socially, educationally and economically backward communities; and, as a first step, implement the Caste Census,” the parties had said in their resolution passed “in one voice”.

A caste-based survey being conducted by the Bihar government, championed by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar as a move to help the disadvantaged, had been upheld by the Patna High Court last month. 

The high court had dismissed various petitions challenging the Bihar government’s decision to conduct the caste-based survey and the socio-economic survey in the state. The court’s order had come nearly three months after it had stayed the survey.

Mr Kumar had claimed last week that the decision to hold the caste-based survey was taken unanimously by the leaders of all political parties, including the BJP, in the state.

On August 29, the Centre had also amended an affidavit submitted to the Supreme Court and dropped a paragaph that said “no other body is entitled to conduct the exercise of either Census or any action akin to it”. Hours after submitting the affidavit, the government had said that the paragraph had inadvertently crept in. 

New Delhi:

No other body other than the Union Government can conduct a caste census, the Supreme Court was told today. The Centre, in an affidavit, asserted that the Census Act, 1948, empowers only the Government to conduct the census. The move is a challenge to the Bihar government which in an earlier hearing informed the Supreme Court that an exercise of conducting surveys of the caste census in Bihar was conducted by August 6 and the data gathered uploaded by August 12.

The Supreme Court, on August 21, had allowed Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, to file its response on the issue within seven days after he said the survey could have some consequences. Today was the seventh day.

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav has hit out at the Centre for filing the affidavit. They have no knowledge. They only know how to lie and suppress the truth. They have opposed it even in the affidavit. It has been made clear that the BJP does not want it (caste census) and is opposing it. If they support it, then they should conduct it (caste census) across the country,” he said

Senior BJP leader and former deputy Chief Minister of Bihar Sushil Modi, however, said that his party supports caste census but “according to the Census Act, only the Centre can conduct a caste survey.”

The Government said that it is committed to taking all affirmative actions for the “upliftment of SCS/STS/SEBCs and OBCs in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of India and the applicable law.”

Various petitions have been moved in the Supreme Court challenging the Patna High Court judgment upholding the caste survey ordered by the Bihar Government.

In the August 21 hearing, the top court told the petitioners that it will not stay the exercise unless they made out a prima facie case against it.

The Patna High Court had earlier dismissed the pleas challenging the Nitish Kumar government’s decision to conduct the survey based on castes. The high court had said in its 101-page verdict, “We find the action of the state to be perfectly valid, initiated with due competence with the legitimate aim of providing development with justice….”

The Bihar caste survey would cover an estimated population of 12.70 crores in an estimated 2.58 crore households in 38 districts, which have 534 blocks and 261 urban local bodies. Chief Minister NItish Kumar insists that the caste survey would be beneficial for all sections of the society.