Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], May 1 (ANI): Senior Congress leader and Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar on Thursday welcomed the Centre’s decision to conduct a caste census, saying that Congress is committed to doing social justice to every section of society.
“The Karnataka government welcomes this decision. My leader, Rahul Gandhi, has also welcomed it. Congress is committed to delivering social justice to every section of society…Congress governments are committed to cooperating with the system,” Shivakumar told reporters.
He credited Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s nationwide campaign for putting pressure on the Centre to take up caste enumeration.
“Rahul Gandhi has already raised the issue of the caste census. Finally, they (Centre) have done so under pressure. It was the responsibility of the central government. Based on the caste census, every section must get justice; that’s what we are demanding. The Karnataka government has already confirmed that we will extend all support for this,” he added.
Census is a Union subject under Article 246 of the Constitution, listed at item 69 in the Union List of the Seventh Schedule.
On Wednesday, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, while announcing the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs’ decision, highlighted concerns about the transparency and intent of some states’ own caste censuses, claiming that some censuses were conducted “purely from a political angle.”
“While some states have conducted surveys to enumerate castes, these surveys have varied in transparency and intent, with some conducted purely from a political angle, creating doubts in society. Considering all these circumstances, and to ensure that our social fabric does not come under political pressure, it has been decided that caste enumeration should be included in the main census instead of being conducted as a separate survey,” Vaishnaw said.
Bihar, Karnataka and Telangana have already conducted a caste census in their respective state. Telangana has also implemented a 42 per cent backwards class reservation for people in the state. (ANI)
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