Bihar Chief Minister (CM) Nitish Kumar has said that he will call on Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi on 23 August 2021 to discuss the possibilities of conducting a caste-based census in the country.
On 3 August 2021, Nitish Kumar had written to the PM seeking an appointment to discuss the matter.
The demand for conducting a caste-based census has been gathering support from NDA allies Janata Dal (United) and Apna Dal, as well as regional outfits, following the passage of the Constitution 127A Amendment Bill 2021. The legislation restores the power initially accorded to states for identifying socially and economically backward Other Backward Classes (OBC).
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Besides the JD(U) supremo, his predecessor Jitan Ram Manjhi has also been pushing for the conduct of the census. Recently, Union Minister, Ramdas Athwale had also raised the demand.
The Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party (SP), Mayawati’s Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) among others, have also been pressing the government to demand the same.
However, in the recently concluded Monsoon Session of the Parliament, the ruling BJP had categorically refused to undertake a caste-based census as a policy matter.
Following the passage of the Constitution 127A Amendment Bill 2021, NCP heavyweight Sharad Pawar has come down harshly on the ruling government, claiming that the sitting government lacks the political will needed to remove the 50 per cent cap imposed on quota to minorities, and that latter is misleading OBCs across the country by repealing and then handing back to the states, the power granted for identifying minorities.
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The census demand is also likely to be discussed during the meeting of Opposition leaders that is to be hosted by Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, later today.
