Bihar: Tug of war between BJP & JD(U) on caste census issue

PATNA: As the RJD and JD(U), along with other opposition parties, are on the same page and have also started mounting pressure on the Centre for a caste-based census in the country, the Bihar BJP appears to be caught in a gridlock and, therefore, countering their moves in its own limited way. The RJD and JD(U) have been also pitching for the caste census in the state with its own resources.
The peculiar situation of the BJP originates from the fact that its MLAs had supported the unanimous resolution for caste census adopted by the state assembly twice, in 2019 and 2020, but has now to abide by the Centre’s stand on it; that general caste census cannot be conducted, except of the scheduled caste (SC) and scheduled tribe (ST) groups. The central government also informed Parliament about it in the current monsoon session.
On Friday, JD(U) MP from Sitamarhi, Sunil Kumar Pintu, told mediapersons, “If the central government decides to hold caste census, then it is all right. Otherwise, our government will conduct it in Bihar. The central government should bring in a Bill in Parliament and get it passed to authorise state governments to hold caste census in their states. The Bihar government has started preparations in this regard.”
JD(U) parliamentary board chairman Upendra Kushwaha, who is touring the state to strengthen the party, said at Sheikhpura on Friday that if the census of people based on religious denominations could be done, then caste census could also be conducted.
Asked by mediapersons about the state government itself deciding for a caste census if the central government did not opt for the pan-India one, deputy CM Tarkishore Prasad said, “There is no such proposal at present with the state government. CM Nitish Kumar has sought appointment with PM Narendra Modi to discuss the demand for caste census in the country. The central government is looking at all the aspects of the matter. It will take its decision only after due consideration of all the aspects involved,” Prasad also said.
Otherwise, Both CM Nitish from JD(U) and RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, who is also leader of opposition in the state assembly, are in agreement that if the Centre did not agree to holding the caste-based census in the country, then the Bihar government should conduct the one in the state on the pattern of Karnataka with its own resources.
In fact, to increase the pressure on the Centre, the RJD has called for the district-level dharna and demonstration on Saturday in the state in pursuance of the demand for the caste census.
Its other demands include filling the backlogs of the reserved vacant seats in the government and implementation of the remaining recommendations as had been made by the Mandal Commission, RJD state general secretary Alok Kumar Mehta told mediapersons.
Earlier, a delegation of JD(U) MPs led by the party’s newly nominated national president Rajiv Ranjan alias Lalan had called on Union home minister Amit Shah and also submitted a memorandum demanding that caste census be held in the country.