New Delhi: Former Bihar Chief Minister and national president of Hindustani Morcha Jitan Ram Manjhi has expressed the hope that a caste census will be conducted in the country following a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and an all-party delegation here from his state.
“I hope that PM Modi will conduct a caste census in the country,” Manjhi told ETV Bharat during an interview.
“If the central government does not get it done, then (Bihar Chief Minister) Nitish Kumar should do it in Bihar. We will wait for the Centre's stand. It should be done be all over the country, including Bihar.”
He said that the caste census will help weaker sections of the society reap benefits from government's schemes.
Also read: All-party delegation from Bihar meets PM over caste census
“They will develop rapidly,” Manjhi said. “It will help them in connecting with the mainstream. Caste census is the need of the hour. The central government should not delay this. Everyone should know the exact numbers.”
He said that during the meeting with all-party delegation Monday, he expressed his views openly to Modi on the issue of caste census.
“He also listened to my words carefully,” the former Chief Minister said. “Therefore, I hope that the central government will take concrete steps soon. If not, then we will get it done together with Nitish Kumar in Bihar. The central government has given the states the right to make their own OBC lists, but despite this, caste census is necessary.”
The demand for a caste census has been intensifying in the country. Monday's all-party delegation from Bihar included Manjhi, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Yadav, Congress Legislature Party leader Ajit Sharma, and Vikassheel Insaan Party chief and state Minister Mukesh Sahni. There were in all 11 leaders from 10 parties.
Also read: Without caste census too, weaker sections developing: Bihar minister
The BJP, however, is not in favour of a caste census claiming that the central government is taking special care of people of every section of the society. Bihar minister and BJP leader Janak Ram, who was also a part of the all-party delegation, has said that vote bank politics is being done under the guise of demanding caste census.
Stating that those who are demanding a caste census were in the government in Bihar for a long time and was also part of the central government, Janak Ram questioned as to why such a census was not done at that time.
“Modi is the messiah of the oppressed and the poor,” he said. “All sections of people are getting the benefits of central government schemes. The Modi government is also rapidly developing the people of the weaker sections. In the BJP, from the state level to the national level, there is participation of leaders from the weaker section castes.”
There is an ongoing tussle on the issue between the BJP and the JDU, the largest parties in the NDA government in Bihar.
