Saying BJP is afraid of caste census, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav advocates for holiding it in all states

Addressing a press conference Kozhikode, Yadav alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party was hesitant to conduct a caste census.

ByPTI

Published Oct 12, 2023 | 6:56 PMUpdatedOct 12, 2023 | 6:56 PM

Tejashwi Yadav Kozhikode

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar Tejashwi Yadav on Thursday, 12 October, strongly advocated for holding a caste census across India.

Yadav emphasised that such an exercise is crucial in comprehending the socio-economic conditions of the impoverished sections of the country.

Addressing a press conference in the north Kerala city of Kozhikode where he was attending a meeting regarding the merger of Loktantrik Janata Dal (LJD) and the RJD, Tejashwi Yadav alleged that the BJP was hesitant to conduct a caste census.

Also read: Karnataka govt to decide on making caste census public: Siddaramaiah

‘BJP afraid of caste census’

“I guess that the BJP… they are really afraid of getting the caste census done… We are in full support of the caste census,” stated Yadav, alongside LJD state president MV Shreyams Kumar.

Yadav pointed out that leaders from various constituents of the INDIA alliance, including Rahul Gandhi of the Indian National Congress, have consistently raised the issue of a caste census.

“What we want is that it should happen all over the country. The caste census can only be done by the central government, as per the Constitution. In Bihar, what we did was a caste-based survey,” clarified Yadav in response to a query.

The government of Nitish Kumar in Bihar recently unveiled the results of its much-anticipated caste survey.

Also read: Conduct national caste census to ensure social justice: Congress

Bihar caste census

This revelation, preceding the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, disclosed that Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and Economically Backward Classes (EBCs) collectively constitute a substantial 63 percent of Bihar’s population.

This development has triggered a widespread call for similar caste-based enumerations in other states, becoming a pivotal agenda of the opposition INDIA coalition.

Yadav further asserted that the merger between RJD and LJD would fortify the party’s standing in southern India, conveying a robust message to socialist factions across the nation.

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