CM Revanth Reddy urges PM Modi to implement caste census in quickest possible time

Hyderabad: Telangana chief minister Revanth Reddy urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to implement the caste census approved by the union cabinet scientifically and in the quickest possible time.

“PM Modi has agreed to what our leader Rahul Gandhi has been saying about the caste census and we appreciate the decision of the union government. Telangana state is the role model for this exercise,” he said.

Rahul Gandhi’s demand

Caste census is an X ray of the society and during the Bharat Jodo Yatra, people who met Rahul Gandhi explained to him how caste census was important.

“In Telangana, a detailed census was carried out with 57 questions and it is now a model for the entire country. Telangana Assembly also passed two resolutions uring the central government to implement the same. These two resolutions called for conducting a caste census as part of the national population census and removing the 50 percent cap on reservations. A protest was also organized in Jantar Mantar along with the backward caste groups and this growing pressure has compelled PM Narendra Modi to take decision on caste census,” said CM Revanth Reddy.

Set a deadline

CM Revanth Reddy said, “We welcome this decision and we want the PM Narendra Modi to clearly announce when the caste census will be conducted in the country. There must be a framework for the caste census.”

To conduct the caste census there must be two committees, one consisting of central ministers and another of officials.

All political parties

Consultation with all political parties must be carried out before finalizing the procedure for the caste census.

CM Revanth Reddy said, “In Telangana, the procedures were developed and made public. There was comprehensive data collected comprising of 8 pages and 57 questions. We created a transparent system to ensure that the data given to the government in the caste census is used for the programs of welfare for the people. Telangana leads the nation and is a model for the others to follow.”

In Telangana, there was no political interference in conducting the caste survey, explained CM Revanth Reddy.

Share experience with Center

“We are open to sharing our experience with the central government to uplift marginalized communities. We want the vision of Rahul Gandhi to become a reality,” said CM Revanth Reddy.

Local BJP leaders

“Local BJP leaders are jealous and insecure. They should ask why has caste census not been conducted in BJP ruled states even after a decade in power. These local leaders are more focused on political jargons. They are not able to accept that PM Modi has taken the policy of Telangana caste census as a model.”

BJP spoke against caste census

Till recently, BJP spoke against the caste census, said CM Revanth Reddy. The union Government came forward to conduct caste census only under pressure from the Opposition. “The BJP led government has to conduct the caste census to save its coalition government at the centre,” said CM Revanth Reddy.