Raipur (Chhattisgarh) [India], May 13 (HBTV): Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao criticised the Congress party for attempting to claim credit for the announcement of a caste census, stating that the party habitually takes credit for initiatives implemented by the Modi government.

‘Congress party is ready to take credit for every work done by the Modi government... What did they do to conduct a caste census since 1951? Today, the public knows that if anyone works for their welfare, it is PM Modi,’ Sao told ANI.

He pointed out that the Congress, despite being in power for several decades since Independence, had not taken any concrete steps to conduct a caste-based census. He said that people now recognise Prime Minister Narendra Modi as someone who genuinely works for their welfare.

Sao’s remarks follow the central government’s decision to include caste-based data in the upcoming national census. The move has ignited a political debate, with various parties seeking credit for the development.

On Thursday, posters were displayed outside the Congress office claiming that Rahul Gandhi had long demanded a caste census. The posters read: ‘Didn't we say? Modi Ji will have to conduct the caste census, we will make sure it happens!’ and ‘In a world that bows, we need someone who can make it bow.’

The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) also put up similar posters, congratulating party chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and leader Tejashwi Yadav for their consistent advocacy. The RJD described the announcement as a political victory.

Meanwhile, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, while announcing the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs' decision, raised concerns about how some state-level caste surveys had been carried out.

‘While some states have conducted surveys to enumerate castes, these surveys have varied in transparency and intent, with some conducted purely from a political angle, creating doubts in society. Considering all these circumstances, and to ensure that our social fabric does not come under political pressure, it has been decided that caste enumeration should be included in the main census instead of being conducted as a separate survey,’ Vaishnaw stated.

The decision to include caste enumeration in the main census was made by the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

(ANI)