Former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav has welcomed the Centre’s landmark decision to include caste-based data in the national census, calling it a potentially “transformative moment” in India’s journey toward equality.
In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Yadav shared on social media platform X, he described the move as long overdue and demanded that it translate into concrete policy reforms that uphold the dignity and empowerment of marginalised communities.
“The millions who have struggled for this census await not just data but dignity, not just enumeration but empowerment,” Yadav wrote.
While expressing “cautious optimism,” he criticised the BJP-led Centre’s historical resistance to caste enumeration and alleged that even Bihar’s caste survey faced repeated obstruction from central officials and BJP leaders.
Referring to the Bihar caste survey—which revealed that OBCs and EBCs make up around 63% of the state’s population—Yadav said national-level data would be vital to dispel myths that perpetuate status quo politics and social inequality.
“Your belated decision represents an acknowledgement of the groundswell of demands from the citizens who have long been relegated to the margins of our society,” he wrote to PM Modi.
Yadav stressed that the caste census must be the starting point, not the conclusion, of broader social justice reforms. He urged the government to:
- Review and revise reservation policies, including the 50% cap, in light of new demographic data.
- Ensure that the upcoming delimitation exercise leads to proportional political representation for OBCs, EBCs, and other marginalised groups.
- Encourage the private sector to embrace inclusivity, given the public resources it has benefited from.
“It is entirely reasonable to expect [companies] to reflect the social composition of our country,” he argued.
The letter also questioned the sincerity of the Centre’s move:
“Will the data be used as a catalyst for systemic reforms, or will it be confined to dusty archives like many previous commission reports?”
Reaffirming Bihar’s readiness to cooperate, Yadav assured the Prime Minister of the state’s commitment to using the data constructively for genuine social transformation.
The decision to include caste enumeration was taken by the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA) chaired by PM Modi. Following the meeting, Union I&B Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the decision reflects the government’s commitment to holistic national interests and social values.
As the political landscape braces for a significant shift in light of the caste census, Yadav’s letter places pressure on the Centre to go beyond symbolic gestures and initiate structural change.