Patna (Bihar), May 2: RJD MP Manoj Jha took a pointed swipe at BJP leaders on Friday over their earlier opposition to the caste census, highlighting what he called a major reversal driven by public pressure. Without naming specific individuals, Jha asked, “Which slogan will replace ‘batenge to katenge’ now?” — a clear jab at rhetoric previously used to oppose the exercise.
Jha emphasized that the demand for a caste-based census has long been non-negotiable, echoing statements by Bihar’s Leader of the Opposition, Tejashwi Yadav. He expressed concern over the silence of leaders who had once warned that caste enumeration would “spread poison.”
He also called for the central government to create a clear roadmap to conduct the caste census — originally scheduled for 2021 — and link it with other stalled measures like women’s reservation and delimitation.
Meanwhile, political voices across the spectrum lauded the central government’s announcement to proceed with caste enumeration in the upcoming census. Maharashtra Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal attributed the move to the persistent efforts of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and demanded swift implementation.
Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav also welcomed the decision, calling it a “100 per cent victory” for the PDA (Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) communities and citing it as the result of sustained pressure from marginalized groups.
The announcement came after the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs approved the inclusion of caste data in the next census, with Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw making the decision public on April 30.
Key Points:
- RJD’s Manoj Jha criticizes BJP’s past stance on caste census.
- Calls for a defined timeline and integration with other democratic reforms.
- Congress and SP hail the decision as a win for social justice.
- Centre formally agrees to include caste data in next census.