BJP explains why caste census cannot be held

The BJP has said administrative, legal and technical issues make it difficult to conduct a caste survey during the national census. The social justice parties and Congress have been demanding for a caste census to scientifically determine the quantum of reservations in jobs and education institutions that other backward communities deserve. It has been a major election issue of the Opposition parties, ostensibly aimed at wooing OBCs, but also cited in court judgements on reservations too. The demand for a caste census has been growing in Hindi heartland states, the BJP has been explaining why a caste census cannot be held at OBC intellectuals' meets conducted by the party's OBC Morcha. The process of conducting a caste census is complicated by administrative, legal, and technical obstacles. There are several castes not listed in the central OBC list but under state OBC lists. In addition, there are numerous non-OBC castes who want to be included in the OBC category. All these make it difficult for the Centre to conduct a caste-based census, BJP OBC Morcha president K Laxman said. The leaders have been putting forward such arguments at the meetings. In UP, some Brahmin castes were OBCs, while in Bihar, the entire Vaishya community was OBC. In several other states, however, they come under the general caste category. Jats, in some parts of the country, were not included on the OBC list. We explain that a detailed study to include all deserving castes in the OBC list was needed before conducting a census based on caste. We also told them that a Congress-led government at the centre had done a caste census but did not release data. Laxman said state governments were free to conduct surveys based on caste. The previous Siddaramaiah government had conducted a survey in Karnataka, but the data was not disclosed. The Patna High Court has recently stayed a similar survey conducted by the Bihar government. The BJP's OBC Morcha will organise several such gatherings as part of the celebration of nine years of the Modi government. It is also organising 'Thank You Modi Ji' public meetings for his'special schemes and initiatives' for the OBCs.