Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday said the party has consistently demanded a caste census, hoping that the central government will allocate the budget and release the report. The government on Wednesday decided to include caste enumeration in the population census.
Amid ongoing political sparring, parties across the political spectrum have welcomed the Union Cabinet's decision to approve the caste census, marking a moment of consensus on a sensitive issue that has long been at the centre of debates on social justice and representation.
Welcoming the Cabinet's decision to conduct a caste census, Ashok Gehlot said the move reflects the growing pressure created by Congress and its leadership, particularly Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday welcomed the move as a historic decision for the upliftment of deprived sections, calling it vital for their empowerment and development.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday extended his support to the Cabinet decision approving caste enumeration in the forthcoming census, saying the move will transform social justice and data-based good governance into reality.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday welcomed the Union Cabinet's decision to include caste enumeration in the forthcoming population census, saying that the decision reflects Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji's deep commitment to inclusive governance.
In a post on X, CM Reddy said, "Today, finally, we proved that what Telangana Does Today, India will follow tomorrow. It is a proud moment that Rahul Gandhi has shown how his vision has become a policy even in opposition. We are proud that the actions of Telangana government for OBC empowerm
In a self-made video, Ashok Choudhary said, "This is a historic decision. It strengthens the foundation of Nitish Kumar's vision. He has been fighting this battle for so long, even meeting the Prime Minister personally to press for this demand."
Drawing from Karnataka's example, Siddaramaiah noted that his government had conducted a caste census and collected extensive data to evaluate different groups' socio-economic and educational conditions.
Odisha's Former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president welcomed the Centre's decision to conduct a caste-based census on Wednesday, terming it a significant step towards ensuring social justice.
Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday termed the Union Cabinet's decision to include caste enumeration in the national census a "100 per cent victory" of the unity of 90 per cent of PDA--Picchda (Backward classes), Dalits (Schedule Castes), and Alpasankhyaks (Minorities).