Political News: BJP ally JDU, other regional parties hit out at Centre for its anti-OBC census stand

The Modi government’s affidavit in the Supreme Court that it has decided not to conduct a caste census as it was “administratively difficult and cumbersome” has led to criticism from various political parties, including BJP partner JDU. Those in favour of the exercise alleged that the Centre was running away from giving Other Backward Castes their right and underlined that some sections within the BJP were also demanding a caste census to determine the actual percentage of OBCs. RJD, BSP, Shiv Sena and JDU spoke out against the government while another BJP ally Apna Dal, which has vociferously pressed for it, remained silent.

“We are shocked and saddened by this decision and are concerned. The Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India has said he has no issues in enumerating caste during the census. The Parliamentary Committee on OBC Welfare led by BJP MP Ganesh Singh passed a unanimous resolution demanding caste census. Even Supreme Court judges have asked why no caste census is being conducted to know the real figures of backward castes,” JDU leader KC Tyagi told ET. He said several BJP MPs, including Sushil Modi, Sanghamitra Maurya and Pankaja Munde have demanded this.

“Bihar, Odisha, Maharashtra and Karnataka (earlier) have passed resolutions that caste census should be held. Even Jharkhand is now bending in its favour. Some states have come forward to say they are ready to conduct it themselves if the Centre agrees,” Tyagi said.

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar had recently led a delegation to PM Modi to press for caste census. Kumar had created the Most Backward Classes grouping within OBCs to benefit the weaker and numerically less dominant backward castes in his state.

Another NDA partner Apna Dal has said that caste census is a must to do due justice to the backward caste. Union minister Anupriya Patel had told ET that caste calculation at the time of Mandal Commission report implementation was only on conjecture. There is no reason not to conduct the exercise now, she said. The party had till now maintained that the PM, who himself belongs to the backward community, will ensure this. Apna Dal did not react to the government affidavit in the apex court on this issue.

Former NDA partner Shiv Sena slammed the government on the issue. It has been demanding that the data of the 2011 Census, in which caste was enumerated, be made public. In its affidavit in SC, the Narendra Modi government has said this data has “inaccuracies.”

RJD supremo Lalu Prasad tweeted: “In the census, snakes-scorpions, parrots, elephants-horses, dogs-cats, pigs-wolves, etc. along with other birds-animals-plants will be counted but not the Backward and Most Backward. Wah! Why does BJP/RSS have such hatred towards Backwards….. BJP/RSS is deceiving the backward/most backward castes.”

BSP leader Mayawati said this affidavit of the government is “very serious and very worrying”. This exposes, she said, the electoral interests on OBC politics of the BJP and the difference between its promises and deeds.

BJP hit back at the criticism and defended the government decision. Party spokesperson and Rajya Sabha MP Sudhanshu Trivedi told reporters that the parties espousing this should be asked about what they have done for Backwards and why their chiefs confined themselves to the well-being of their kin.