“Govt Gave Headline But Where Is Deadline?”

On Thursday, May 1, the Congress party launched a scathing attack on the government following its announcement to include caste enumeration in the upcoming census. Congress general secretary in-charge of communications, Jairam Ramesh, criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi, labeling him the “master of giving a headline without a deadline.” Ramesh expressed skepticism about the government’s intentions, stating, “Many questions arise about the decision, especially on the intention of the government,” and urged for the census to be conducted as soon as possible.

Ramesh emphasized the need to remove the 50 percent cap on reservations, questioning, “What is stopping the Modi government from doing this?” He argued that a Constitutional Amendment is necessary to eliminate this cap, asserting that “the caste census would be meaningful only when this is done.” He referenced a press release from a December 2019 Cabinet meeting, which indicated that the Union Cabinet had approved a proposal for the 2021 census at a cost of Rs 8,254 crore, but notably, there was no mention of caste enumeration in that release.

“Everyone knows that this census has not been done, and six years have passed. Surprisingly, the announcement was made by the government yesterday,” Ramesh remarked, highlighting the inconsistency in the government’s timeline. He called for a clear roadmap for the caste census, pointing out that the 2025-26 Budget allocated only Rs 575 crore to the office of the census commissioner. “So what kind of census are they planning to get done in Rs 575 crore? What is their intention? Many questions arise on the intention,” he questioned.

Ramesh also criticized the government’s delay in conducting the census, stating, “You should have gotten the census done in 2021. They cite the Covid pandemic, but more than 50 countries did their census during Covid. The pandemic was not there in 2023 or 2024, but they did not get it done.” He recalled that during a series of interviews last year, the Prime Minister had labeled those advocating for a caste census as “urban naxals.” Ramesh quipped, “Since when did he become an urban naxal? Since when did Home Minister Amit Shah become an urban naxal?”

His comments followed the Centre’s announcement that caste enumeration would be included in the next population census, marking the first time such details would be collected since India gained independence. Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi welcomed the government’s “sudden” decision after “11 years of opposing it,” but insisted that the Centre must provide a timeline for implementation. “My immediate suspicion is that this could go the women’s bill way in terms of implementation,” Gandhi stated, demanding a specific date for the census.

Gandhi asserted that the pressure exerted by the Congress party had influenced the government’s decision, saying, “It is clear that the pressure the Congress put on the government for the caste census has worked.” Opposition parties, including Congress, have been vocal in their demand for a nationwide caste census, making it a significant election issue. Some states, such as Bihar, Telangana, and Karnataka, have already conducted their own caste surveys.

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the decision made by the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs, clarifying 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. As the debate continues, the Congress party remains firm in its stance, pushing for clarity and accountability from the government regarding the caste census.