NEW DELHI: With Congress upping the ante on the demand for a nation- wide caste census, the Opposition has set the narrative of social justice politics ahead of 2024 elections.. On Sunday, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge wrote to Prime Minister Modi asking him to conduct a comprehensive caste census along with the decennial Census, which was pending since 2021.
During a poll campaign speech in Karnataka, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also dared the BJP government to make the 2011 caste-based census data public and demanded the lifting of the 50 per cent ceilings on reservations.
“For the first time, the UPA government conducted a Socio Economic and Caste Census during 2011-2012 covering some 25 crore households. For a number of reasons, the caste data could not get published even though Congress and other MPs demanded its release after your government came to power in 2014,” said Kharge in his letter.
The tough posturing by Opposition parties is likely to put the Modi government in a spot as it has been dithering on the contentious issue of caste based census for identifying and enumerating the SEBC/OBCs, for a long time. Early this month, at least 16 Opposition parties attended a Social Justice conference hosted by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK Chief M K Stalin, which deliberated on caste census.
While Kharge’s letter to the PM was welcomed by Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar, leader K C Tyagi told this paper that the plank of social justice should be the main focus of the 2024 elections.
“Though Congress used to be a status quo party, we welcome the change in their approach towards social justice. The Congress never gave reservation to backward communities or increased the quota from 50 percent. Now they are on board with other parties. The Left parties which opposed caste census earlier, also now agree with us,” said Tyagi adding that Congress must conduct caste surveys in party ruled states.
While Nitish quit NDA alliance in Bihar last year over a host of issues including caste census, the Opposition’s effort to woo the OBCs may pose fresh troubles for BJP. As Bihar is already carrying out a caste based survey, Tyagi pointed out that it will help the government in better implementation of welfare schemes for the backward community. “Survey will be completed by May. We have already identified 15 more castes in addition to the existing ones,” he says.
However, Rahul Verma of Centre for Policy Research (CPR) says that Congress has to walk the talk and conduct caste census in the states it rules. “Congress’ track record on reservation and social justice politics has not been that great so far. If it wants to mobilize in this issue, then it has to show more credible behavior in the states they are in power,” says Verma.