Congress accuses BJP of using caste census as a diversion tactic

Jairam Ramesh pic/PTI

The Central government's recent decision to include caste enumeration in the upcoming national census has sparked political controversy, with the Congress party accusing the BJP of using the move as a diversionary tactic rather than a step towards social justice, reported news agency PTI.

Congress General Secretary in charge of Communications, Jairam Ramesh, slammed the Modi government, alleging that the decision lacked both genuine intent and long-term vision. "This move has not come from a sincere commitment to social justice or the desire to introduce any new provisions," Ramesh said. "It is merely a response to mounting public and political pressure."

On Friday, the Centre announced that caste details would be collected in the next national population census - a historic shift, marking the first time since Independence that caste data will be formally recorded at the national level. The announcement follows pressure from opposition parties and the public, particularly after states such as Bihar, Telangana, and Karnataka independently conducted caste-based surveys.

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, speaking on behalf of the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs, defended the decision, stating that while the census is under the Centre's jurisdiction, several states had carried out such surveys "non-transparently," which had created confusion and mistrust in society, reported PTI.

Reacting sharply, Ramesh accused the BJP of following a familiar pattern - opposing progressive policies when introduced by others and later co-opting them for political advantage. "The BJP has made this decision out of compulsion, not conviction," he said. "Their goal is to distract the public from real national concerns, such as the demand for decisive action after the recent terror attack in Pahalgam."

Ramesh highlighted several past instances where the BJP allegedly followed this strategy. He cited the Aadhaar project, which the BJP had once criticized as a privacy risk and political tool, only to later adopt it as the backbone of its welfare schemes. Similarly, the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme - both launched under Congress leadership - were initially opposed by the BJP but later implemented with minimal changes and rebranded as flagship reforms.

He also recalled Prime Minister Modi's earlier criticism of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), calling it a "monument of failure." However, during the COVID-19 crisis, the government expanded the program significantly to support rural workers and claimed credit for its success.

Ramesh further mentioned the Congress' Yuva Nyay apprenticeship proposal, which was dismissed by the BJP during the election season. Yet, a similar scheme was later announced in the Union Budget. "Sadly, till today, that too remains just an announcement," he said. A comparable situation, he added, occurred with cash assistance schemes for women - initially rejected by the BJP, but later implemented under different branding.

"These examples reflect a consistent pattern of defaming progressive ideas, only to adopt them later for political mileage," Ramesh said. "This government has no original vision and no genuine intent to address the country's urgent needs."

Concluding his remarks, Ramesh questioned the timing and seriousness of the caste census announcement. "Where is the deadline?" he asked, accusing Prime Minister Modi of being a "master of giving a headline without a deadline." He warned that such announcements are often used to divert public attention from more pressing and sensitive national issues.

(With inputs from PTI)