Uttar Pradesh Cabinet Minister Om Prakash Rajbhar on Tuesday took a sharp dig at opposition parties for claiming credit over the caste-based census, alleging they had ignored the demand while in power.
Speaking to ANI, Rajbhar questioned the track record of Congress, Samajwadi Party (SP), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), stating that despite multiple chances, these parties failed to act on the issue of caste enumeration.
“Congress couldn’t conduct a caste census even after 60 years in power. Samajwadi Party, BSP, and RJD supported Congress but never got it done. People took ministries like Defence and Railways just to enjoy power—caste census was never on their agenda,” Rajbhar said.
He also targeted SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, stating that during his five-year tenure as Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, he never once raised the issue of caste census with the Prime Minister.
“Had we not aligned with them in 2022, they wouldn’t have even remembered caste census. Our party has been consistently fighting for this from the beginning,” added Rajbhar, defending his party’s long-standing stance on the issue.
Meanwhile, SP leader Akhilesh Yadav countered by asserting that the BJP was conducting the caste census out of fear of a united PDA — Picchda (Backward Classes), Dalit, and Alpashankyak (Minorities).
“There is no limit to this government’s corruption. Injustice has reached new heights. The PDA family has united because of this. BJP is conducting the caste census out of fear of our unity. We will stay united to ensure there are no irregularities in the process,” Akhilesh said at a press conference.
The exchange highlights the intensifying political battle over caste-based enumeration, as parties gear up for elections and seek to assert their pro-backward class credentials.