Agartala: May 02: In a press conference today, Rajib Bhattacharya, the state BJP president and Member of Parliament, discussed the issue of caste-based census and its historical context. He highlighted that caste-based data had not been consistently included in national census reports post-independence. Referring to developments in 2010, Bhattacharya noted that then-Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had assured the Lok Sabha that the inclusion of caste data would be considered, leading to the formation of a ministerial committee where various political parties expressed support for caste-based enumeration. However, the Congress-led government at the time conducted a separate socio-economic survey that included caste-based data.
Bhattacharya mentioned that while some states had independently carried out caste-based surveys, many of these were politically influenced, resulting in societal confusion. He explained that, in response to such challenges, the central government had now decided to include caste-based data in the national census.
He emphasized that the current administration’s decision aimed to benefit marginalized communities and ensure their inclusion in developmental policies. Additionally, Bhattacharya expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for their role in the initiative.
Addressing security concerns, Bhattacharya commented on the recent militant attack in Pahalgam. He reaffirmed the central government’s strong stance against the incident and conveyed that Prime Minister Modi had assured firm retaliatory measures.
The press conference underscored the government’s commitment to policies that promote inclusivity and security.
