"Win for Rahul Gandhi": Maharashtra Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal demands timely implementation of caste census

Nagpur (Maharashtra) [India], May 2 (ANI): Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Vasantrao Sapkal on Friday credited Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, as the central government decides to conduct a caste census.
Vasantrao Sapkal demanded that the caste census be implemented in a time-bound manner.
"Congress demands that it (caste census) be implemented immediately in a time-bound manner. The BJP should focus on the same. This is a win for Rahul Gandhi. If this decision is taken, it will prove to be beneficial for the country. We request that this decision not be a mere announcement but implemented in reality," Sapkal told ANI.
Speaking on Union Home Minister Amit Shah's "chun chun ke badla lenge" remark about Pakistan, the Congress leader said, "The Congress party has decided to stand with whatever decision the central government makes."
Earlier on Thursday, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav welcomed the government's decision to approve the caste census, describing it as a significant step towards achieving social justice.
This move is a major victory for the PDA (Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) and a result of collective pressure from various groups, he said, adding that the decision to conduct a caste census is a 100 per cent victory for the 90 per cent PDA people.
Yadav emphasised that the BJP government was forced to take this decision due to the combined pressure from all sections of society.
Addressing a press conference, Yadav said, "The government has just taken a decision. We are happy that a step has been taken towards establishing social justice. The decision of the caste census is a 100% victory of 90% of the PDA people. Due to the combined pressure from all of us, the BJP government has been forced to take this decision. This is an important step in the victory of PDA in the fight for social justice."
This came after the centre decided to include castes in the forthcoming census. Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the decision on April 30 following the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs meeting. (ANI)