New Delhi, May 07: The Congress and the Union cabinet may be divided over caste census. But a discussion in the Lok Sabha on Thursday the need to lay down specific parameters for conducting the Census 2011 saw almost all parties backing the caste- based census.
Even the CPM, which talks of “ class” not caste, backed the caste- based census while the Congress appeared divided in the House. And officially, the party appeared ambivalent on the issue.
Congress members Sandeep Dikshit and Beni Prasad Verma, who participated in the discussion, supported caste- based enumeration, but another member Bhakta Charan Das said caste- based politics should be avoided.
Dikshit said the government should consider the issue which was sensitive. He also demanded a separate column for “ nonbelievers” vis- à- vis religion. The debate witnessed near unanimity on the question that it was necessary to know the exact population of various castes in the country.
Home minister P. Chidambaram will reply to the discussion on Friday.
Asked to spell the party’s stand on caste census, Congress spokesperson Shakeel Ahmed said: “ It is a sensitive matter and a decision should be taken only by consensus.
It is a very sensitive issue… after 1932 no caste census took place. On such a sensitive issue, any decision can be made only after talking to all parties and building a comprehensive consensus,” Ahmed said.
Biju Janata Dal member Bhartuhari Mehtab backing the caste census, demanded a column for “ transgenders” in the census forms.
In a lighter vein, RJD chief Lalu Prasad, responding to BJP leader Gopinath Munde, said: “ When you ( Munde) take rebirth, you should become a Yadav in Bihar.” “ When we were fighting for Mandal, you were fighting for kamandal ( a reference to BJP’s Hindutva agenda),” Lalu said.
JD- U leader Sharad Yadav warned there will be a “ volcanic eruption ( of the backward castes)” if the government did not undertake caste- based enumeration in the census.
Backing caste census, Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav said those who are in the majority the sentiments should be addressed.
BJP leader Gopinath Munde said “ not undertaking caste- based census is denying social justice to the OBCs ( other backward classes)” adding: “ We don’t want anything, at least tell us what is our number.” TKS Elangovan of the DMK also supported the demand. “ This is a necessary step to ensure development of the backward classes,” he said.
—Agencies