Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader CR Kesavan launched a sharp attack on the Congress party on Thursday, accusing it of using the issue of caste census as a “prejudiced political tool” to exploit deprived sections rather than to uplift them.
“For the Congress party caste census has always been a prejudiced political tool for exploiting the deprived sections. Jawaharlal Nehru never conducted caste census. Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi never conducted caste census. They were always opposed to the welfare of the disadvantaged sections. It was only Prime Minister Narendra Modi today who’s taken the decisive decision to ensure that the caste census will be conducted with the national census,” Kesavan told media in Chennai.
He stated that the Congress is ‘rattled’ by the central government’s move to include caste enumeration in the upcoming national census, as it exposes the party’s inaction over decades.
“The Congress party today is rattled because they’ve been exposed till now, though they’ve been in power for decades, they never did the caste census because the Congress party has always been opposed to the welfare of the disadvantaged sections. Right from Nehru’s days when they opposed Kaka Kalelkar Commission recommending reservations for backward classes, but they got constitutional status only after Modi became PM, it was done in 2018,” he added.
The Kaka Kalelkar Commission, established in 1953, was the first Backward Classes Commission, and it submitted its report in 1955, recommending reservations and benefits for backward communities. However, its recommendations were largely ignored.
Kesavan hailed the Cabinet Committee’s decision on caste census as “historic”, saying it lays a strong foundation for a Viksit Bharat (Developed India), aligned with the vision of Dr B.R. Ambedkar.
“For this historic decision. Which will secure a strong foundation and edifice for Viksit Bharat. Today’s decision is testament to Narendra Modi’s steadfast resolve and commitment to Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar,” he said.
Drawing a sharp contrast between the Congress and the Modi government, Kesavan said:
“The difference between Congress and Prime Minister Modi is the Congress governance has always been discriminatory and divisive. PM Modi’s governance is sabka sath sabka vikas (development for everyone, with everyone) because it is compassionate and inclusive governance. For the Congress party, talking about caste census is political rhetoric for political profit, but today’s decision by the Prime Minister will ensure precision public policy, which will pave way for inclusive and compassionate governance.”
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, recently approved the inclusion of caste enumeration in the forthcoming national census. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw emphasized that the move will aid transparent, equitable, and evidence-based policymaking.
Although the Congress party has extended support for the caste census now, it also remarked that the move was “11 years too late.”
Several states including Bihar, Karnataka, and Telangana have already carried out state-level caste surveys ahead of the national enumeration.