Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying that a caste census should not be viewed as a negative thing. He believes it’s important for social and economic fairness in India. Kharge reminded the PM that Indians have shown unity in tough times, like after the recent attack in Pahalgam. He stressed that counting castes is necessary to help achieve justice and equal opportunities, which is also mentioned in the Constitution.
Kharge’s letter came after a recent meeting of the Congress Working Committee. They encouraged the government to follow the Telangana caste survey process and asked for funding and a clear timeline for the census. Kharge noted that despite Congress advocating for a caste census, the PM and his party had previously criticized them for this demand. However, he pointed out that the PM now recognizes the importance of this issue.
Last week, the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs agreed to include caste information in the census, but didn’t share further details. Kharge raised concerns, saying, “Without a clear explanation, you just announced that caste would be included.”
He made important suggestions for the census. First, he emphasized that the way questions are asked should not just be about counting people, but also about achieving broader goals for everyone. He mentioned that the Telangana model was effective and that the Home Ministry should use that method. All findings should be shared publicly so that we can track how each caste is progressing over time.
Kharge also highlighted Tamil Nadu, where there is more than 60% reservation for certain groups. He pointed out that the 1994 Tamil Nadu Reservation Act is part of the Constitution, and he believes all states’ reservation laws should also be included. He stated that the current 50% limit on reservations should be removed through a constitutional amendment.
Additionally, he suggested creating new laws to provide reservations for Other Backward Classes (OBC) in both public and private schools. Kharge urged the PM to talk with other political parties soon about the caste census.
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