Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Sunday accused the Modi government of attempting to put the caste-based census “in cold storage”, alleging inconsistencies in its stand over the years.In a post on X, Ramesh outlined what he described as a shifting position by the Centre. He said that on July 20, 2021, the government told the Lok Sabha it had decided “as a matter of policy NOT to enumerate caste-wise population other than SCs and STs in Census.”He further noted that on September 21, 2021, the government filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court reiterating its decision not to conduct a caste census.
Timeline of shifting stance flagged
Ramesh also pointed to remarks by Narendra Modi in April 2024, when the Prime Minister allegedly accused the Congress of having an “urban naxal mindset” for demanding a caste census. He then highlighted that on April 30, 2025, shortly after the Pahalgam terror attack, the government announced that a caste census would be conducted as part of the upcoming exercise.“It is clear that the Modi Govt wants to put the caste census in cold storage,” Ramesh said, alleging a lack of consistency in policy decisions.
Delay concerns and political allegations
The Congress leader also cited a March 30, 2025, press conference by the Registrar-General and Census Commissioner, who said most results of the ongoing Census 2027 would only be available that year due to the digital format.Ramesh questioned the delay, noting that states like Telangana and Bihar had completed caste surveys within six months. He further accused the government of attempting to amend Article 334-A and linked the issue to the implementation of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023.“The Prime Minister, as always, is misleading the country and is engaged in spreading confusion on a large scale. Now they want to amend that provision, which Parliament had passed unanimously in September 2023. The hidden agenda is straightforward: there is to be no caste census at all,” he alleged.
