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Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday welcomed the Union Cabinet's decision to include caste enumeration in the upcoming census, calling it a long-standing demand that will help design targeted development schemes and accelerate national progress.
Taking to X, CM Nitish Kumar said that the demand for a caste census had been raised long ago. "The decision of the Central Government to conduct caste census is welcome. Our demand for conducting a caste census is old. It is a matter of great happiness that the Central Government has decided to conduct caste census. Conducting caste census will reveal the number of people of different classes, which will help in making plans for their upliftment and development. This will accelerate the development of the country. Congratulations and thanks to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji for the decision to conduct caste census," he wrote. Earlier in the day, Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw briefed the media about the decision, saying the move would strengthen the country's social and economic structure."Under the leadership of PM Modi, the Cabinet Committee of Political Affairs has decided today that caste enumeration should be included in the forthcoming census. This demonstrates that the government is committed to the values and interests of the society and the country," he said. Notably, the Bihar government had already conducted a caste-based survey and released its report on October 2, 2023, when Nitish Kumar was heading a coalition government with the Mahagathbandhan. Reacting to the development, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said the Centre's decision would be implemented."If the Union Cabinet has taken this decision, then it will be conducted," he said. Meanwhile, Maharashtra Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar linked the announcement to the upcoming Bihar elections."We welcome this decision as it was our longstanding demand. Bihar elections should be the only motive behind this," he said. (ANI)
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