Will PM Modi Admit Govt’s Policy Change On Caste Census: Congress

The Congress party has accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of making a “desperate U-turn” regarding the caste census, questioning whether he will acknowledge the shift in his government’s policy and provide a timeline for the survey. Jairam Ramesh, Congress Rajya Sabha MP and general-secretary for communications, highlighted the inconsistency in Modi’s stance on the issue, citing past statements where the Prime Minister labeled those advocating for a caste census as “urban naxals.”

In a TV interview on April 28, 2024, Modi had dismissed the demand for a caste census, but Ramesh pointed out that on July 20, 2021, the Modi government informed Parliament of its “policy decision” not to enumerate caste-wise populations beyond Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) in the Census. Ramesh emphasized this point by referencing the government’s affidavit to the Supreme Court dated September 21, 2021, which stated, “the exclusion of information regarding any other caste (outside of SCs and STs) from the purview of census (2021) is a conscious policy decision taken by the Central Government.”

Ramesh further noted that the Modi government had explicitly urged the Supreme Court against ordering a caste census for Other Backward Classes (OBCs), arguing that any such direction would interfere with a policy decision established under Section 8 of the Census Act. He posed three critical questions to the Prime Minister: “Will he have the honesty to acknowledge that his government has officially changed its policy on the caste census over the last 11 years? Will he explain to the people and Parliament the reasons for the change in the government’s policy? And will he commit to a timeline for the caste census?”

The Congress party has characterized the government’s recent decision to include caste enumeration in the upcoming population census as part of a broader pattern of initially opposing beneficial policies, only to adopt them later under public pressure. Ramesh accused Modi of being “the master of giving a headline without a deadline,” suggesting that the announcement regarding the caste census is a “diversionary tactic” in light of growing demands for decisive action against Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack.

On Wednesday, the Centre announced that caste enumeration would be included in the next population census, marking the first time such data will be collected since India gained independence. This decision comes amid mounting pressure from opposition parties, including the Congress, which have made the demand for a nationwide caste census a significant electoral issue. Several states, such as Bihar, Telangana, and Karnataka, have already conducted their own caste surveys.

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, announcing the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs’ decision, stated that while the census falls under the Centre’s purview, some states have conducted caste enumeration in a “non-transparent” manner, leading to societal doubts. The Congress Working Committee (CWC) convened on Friday, urging the government to establish a “clear timeline” for each stage of the caste survey and reiterating its demand to remove the “arbitrary ceiling” of 50 percent on reservations for SCs, STs, and OBCs.

In a resolution passed during the CWC meeting, which was chaired by party president Mallikarjun Kharge and attended by prominent leaders including Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, the Congress asserted, “After 11 years of continued opposition and stubborn refusal, the Modi government has finally conceded to the demand of the Congress to collect population data caste-wise as part of the next census.” The resolution criticized Modi for previously attacking the Congress leadership for raising this demand.

Despite the announcement, the Congress party noted that no specific details have been provided regarding the government’s plans for the caste census, nor have any financial allocations been made. Additionally, the Congress has called for the urgent implementation of Article 15(5) of the Constitution, which allows for reservations for OBCs, Dalits, and Adivasis in private educational institutions.

As the political landscape evolves, the Congress party remains vigilant, demanding accountability and clarity from the Modi government on the caste census and broader issues of social justice and representation.