"BJP Has Never Opposed It . . . :" Amit Shah On Caste Census (image: twitter.com/BJP4India)
As the demand for caste census is gaining focus as the pivotal election agenda of Congress and other opposition parties, Union Minister Amit Shah said on Friday that BJP has never opposed the idea on the same and after extensive discussion a decision will be taken. It was while talking at a press conference, at Chhattisgarh, Mr Shah made this statement.
Responding to a question on caste census, the minister said: “We are a national political party and don”t indulge in vote-bank politics. We will take a decision after holding extensive discussions. But using the issue to try and win elections is not right. The BJP has never opposed it (a caste census) but a lot of thought needs to be put into a decision like this. We will reveal our decision at an appropriate time,” NDTV reports.
Mr Shah”s response is significant as Prime Minister Modi a month earlier accused Congress and opposition that through caste survey they are playing with the feelings of the poor, and dividing people in the name of caste. Addressing a rally in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh”s Gwalior, Mr Modi, further attacked opposition and said: “They are haters of development.”
Meanwhile, India National Development Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), a grouping of opposition parties are in strong favour of nationwide caste census. Congress, vociferously advocates for caste census, and while conducting election campaign in the poll-bound states, the grand old party promises that they will undertake caste-based-census similar to Bihar pattern if they come to power.
In last Saturday, while attending election rally in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region Congress leader Rahul Gandhi asserted that the work for caste census will “start in two hours” if they win the Lok Sabha elections in 2024.
It was on October, Nitish Kumar government released caste-based survey report in Bihar and data shows that Other Backward Classes (OBC) constitutes 63% of the total population.
