‘Growing demand for caste census will compel govt to take action’

Varanasi: State president of Samajwadi Party other backward class cell Rajpal Kashyap said that the growing demand for caste census at the ground level will soon compel the government to include a column of caste in the Census.
Launched in Varanasi on Friday, the initial phase of SP’s statewide campaign to pressurise the BJP-led governments at Centre and state for caste census, Kashyap continued holding the series of seminars on the second day on Saturday to educate the people about the need for such a census.
While addressing one of the seminars at Bhelkha Tarna area to cover people of Pindra, Harahua, Chiraigaon and Cholapur blocks on Saturday morning, he said, “When the government is already seeking information from people on 31 points, it is difficult to understand why it is hesitant on including one more point of caste. The BJP government is running away from holding a caste census because it can disturb its strategy of ensuring clashes between people in the name of caste and religion to stay in power.”
Making people aware about the need for caste census to benefit different groups of OBCs, Scheduled Castes and Schedules Tribes and also the general categories, Kashyap said that “the data of caste-based census will help government welfare schemes reaching the marginalised most backward and deprived castes”.
He mobilised people to get ready for the launch of a mass movement for compelling BJP to ensure caste census.
“The party has started reaching out to the OBCs and the other castes to create a movement with public support for the demand of caste census,” added Kashyap.
Kashyap also attacked rival parties for defaming SP with the claims that only one caste enjoyed benefits of quota and other facilities of OBC.
He said that during his meeting with the people of different sections of society in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s constituency, it came to light that most of them are dissatisfied with the model of development being implemented here.
Regarding the campaign, he said that its first phase will conclude on March 5 after covering Varanasi, Sonbhadra, Mirzapur, Bhadohi and Prayagraj districts by holding block-level seminars. The party has planned to hold public seminars to cover all the 822 blocks in the state after starting it from Varanasi.