"Samajwadi Party always been with caste census..": Akhilesh Yadav

As political parties gear up for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, a new issue has emerged that could potentially reshape the caste dynamics of political parties across India's political landscape.

Akhilesh Yadav, the National President of the Samajwadi Party, participated in the Netaji Mandal Mahasabha, an event organized in memory of the late Mulayam Singh Yadav by the Yadav Mahasabha.

Speaking at the event, the SP leader said, "The Samajwadi Party has always been with the caste census and will remain so. In 2024, the Samajwadi Party will work on a strategy to defeat BJP on 80 seats of UP and will defeat it."

When asked about the allocation of seats in the India alliance in Madhya Pradesh, Akhilesh Yadav said that the Congress party will answer that who will get how many seats in the alliance.

Akhilesh Yadav also criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for a recent incident of road rage in Kanpur, stating that the ruling party had become "arrogant."

This came after Amol Deep Singh Bhatia, a 46-year-old man, suffered a severe assault by 5-6 bouncers associated with BJP corporator Saumya Shukla.

The attack resulted in the loss of one eye and severe damage to the other, with Bhatia currently receiving treatment in Delhi's Ganga Ram Hospital's Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

While talking to the media, Akhilesh Yadav said, "The BJP has now become arrogant, the way a businessman Amol Deep was beaten up by a BJP leader, it is not yet decided whether his eye will be saved or not."

Earlier on October 12, Akhilesh Yadav said that Caste-based census will bring everyone together and it will integrate our society.

Akhilesh Yadav said, "Caste-based census will bring everyone together. The castes that were left behind, those who are not given respect and rights yet, and those who think that their population is more but they are not getting anything according to it, I think caste-based census will integrate our society... All castes will get rights and respect."

Earlier, following the release of the caste survey report by the Bihar government, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav expressed his support for it and called on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to set aside politics and conduct a nationwide caste census.

Akhilesh Yadav took to X and said "Bihar caste-based census published: This is the mathematical basis of social justice. The caste census will not open a new path of 85-15 conflict but of cooperation and those who are not domineering but are supporters of everyone's rights, they support and welcome it. Those who really want to get the rights, get the caste census done. The BJP government should leave politics and conduct a nationwide caste census."

Akhilesh Yadav further stressed that conducting a caste census is a catalyst for the progress of the country. He explained that when people have knowledge of their population within various caste groups, it fosters self-confidence among them.

"When people come to know how many they are, then self-confidence awakens among them and also a social consciousness against social injustice, due to which their unity increases and they can overcome the obstacles coming in the way of their progress. They create new paths and also end the injustice being done by the traditional powerful people of the society. With this, the society moves on the path of equality and the country develops in an integrated manner. The caste census is the path to progress of the country," Akhilesh Yadav said.

Earlier former Congress President Rahul Gandhi also endorsed the Caste census and vowed that Congress-ruled states would conduct these surveys.

"We will not let anyone insult the Adivasis, Dalits or the OBC communities. We will get the Caste census done and ensure that they get their rightful due" said the Congress leader in a post on X. (ANI)