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Slamming the Congress and Samajwadi Party for not "concerned" about the caste census when in power, Union Minister and Apna Dal (S) national president Anupriya Patel on Wednesday said it could be "new issue" for the oppostion but her party has always supported it.
The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare said that when the opposition parties were in power they didn't prioritise the caste census. "Caste census is not a new issue. We have always supported it. Our party has always advocated in favour of caste census. Our party has a clear stand that the caste census should be conducted...It (caste census) could be a new issue for the opposition. When they were in power, be it Congress or the Samajwadi Party, they were not concerned about the caste census," Patel said. Earlier, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said on Wednesday that the caste system has been in "our basic structure" for centuries and hence, Congress is demanding the caste-based census. He further questioned whether demanding a caste census is casteism. Jairam Ramesh said, "Is bringing a social empowerment a casteism? Is safeguarding the Constitution a casteism? Is demanding for caste census a casteism? Caste system has been in our basic structure for the centuries. We cannot escape this. Congress party is saying that conduct a caste census. The second thing that we are saying is to implement the provisions mentioned in the Constitution." Ramesh further demanded for an amendment in the Constitution to increase the reservation limit from 50 per cent. "The Supreme Court has mentioned that the limit for reservations will be 50 per cent. But, we are saying that when the population of SC, ST, and OBCs is more than 50 per cent then remove this limit and bring an amendment in the Consitution...We do not need any certification of nationalism from them (the PM and Union Home Minister)..." he said. Earlier in the day, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said that the party is demanding a caste census to bring in welfare measures. He said, "We are demanding a caste census to bring in welfare measures. This does not mean that we are not patriotic. They have always worked against the country and the constitution... Patriotic people are only there in Congress. These were the people who bowed down in front of the British for their lives." Several opposition parties in India including Congress, RJD, NCP-SCP, etc., have a longstanding demand for conduction of a caste-based census in India, that revolves around the need for accurate data on the population of different caste groups in the country. (ANI)
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