Patna, May 1– Union Minister Giriraj Singh on Thursday lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for greenlighting the inclusion of caste enumeration in the national census, calling it a historic move for social justice and a bold reversal of decades of Congress-era neglect.
In sharp remarks made in Patna, Singh said:
“From Nehru to Manmohan Singh, the Congress governments have committed countless sins against the poor and social equality. PM Narendra Modi has washed away those sins by approving the caste census.”
He accused the Congress of invoking Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s name without backing it up with meaningful action. He also praised Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for his long-standing support of caste-based data collection, adding that India could have seen an OBC secretary in Delhi much earlier if past Congress governments had acted.
“If Rahul Gandhi’s father or grandmother had implemented it, then today there would have been an OBC secretary in Delhi. He should chant PM Narendra Modi’s name for working for social equality without any discrimination,” said Singh, who represents Begusarai in Parliament.
Meanwhile, Union Minister Chirag Paswan took aim at opposition leaders, particularly the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), for attempting to claim credit for the move after previously casting doubt on the Centre’s intent.
“Those who doubted us are now scrambling to take credit. Let whoever wants the credit, take it,” Paswan told ANI.
He emphasized that the decision reflects the will of the majority of Indians and is a response to widespread calls for caste-based data to inform social policy.
The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs, chaired by PM Modi, made the landmark decision on Wednesday to include caste enumeration in the upcoming national census, a politically and socially significant development ahead of national elections.
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