New Delhi: The political debate over the upcoming national census has intensified after the Centre issued its official notification, with the Congress and the Samajwadi Party (SP) strongly criticising the government for not including a caste column in the census format.
The Congress accused the Modi government of going back on its stated commitment to conducting a caste-based census and held Prime Minister Narendra Modi directly responsible for the omission. Party spokesperson Pawan Khera said that the absence of a caste column exposes the government’s “double standards”.
“Prime Minister Modi says one thing and does the exact opposite. The BJP makes promises but fails to translate them into action. Decisions are taken without thought or intent,” Khera said, adding that whenever the Prime Minister makes a claim, “one should expect the opposite to happen.”
The issue was earlier raised by Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, who described the exclusion of caste data as a conspiracy against PDA communities—Backward Classes, Dalits, and Minorities. Taking to social media platform X, Yadav questioned the government’s intent, asking, “If there is no caste column in the census notification, what exactly will be counted?”
He termed the promise of a caste-based census a “jumla” (empty slogan) of the BJP and alleged that the ruling party’s strategy was clear: “No count, no proportional reservation, and no demographic basis to ensure rights.”
Yadav further claimed that those who trusted the BJP now feel deceived and deeply insulted. According to him, without caste data, policies aimed at social justice and equitable representation would lack a factual foundation.
With the census preparations underway, the omission has sparked a fresh political confrontation, placing pressure on the Centre to clarify its stand on caste enumeration—a long-standing demand of several opposition parties.
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