Caste-Based Census: Nitish Kumar Led 10-Party Delegation To Hold Discussion With PM Modi Today

Tejaswi Yadav & Lalu Prasad Yadav have been demanding a caste-based census for a while now. 

Nitish Kumar (File Photo)

New Delhi: The Chief Minister of Bihar, Nitish Kumar will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi to demand a caste-based census. The meeting is likely to be held at around 11 am at the South Block (earlier it was decided to be held at the PM's residence in Lok Kalyan Marg) with a delegation of 10 political parties.

However, the Bihar unit of BJP is not sending its senior leaders not even the two deputy chief ministers or BJP state president Sanjay Jaiswal.

Instead, Janak Ram, a cabinet minister in the Nitish Kumar government, will represent the BJP's Bihar unit in the delegation. On August 4, 2021, Nitish Kumar had written a letter to PM Modi requesting a meeting on this demand that has been made by RJD Tejaswi Yadav. 

"I had sought an appointment with the PM to meet him along with an all-party delegation from Bihar, including RJD's Tejashwi Yadav, to discuss the issue of a caste-based census. I thank him for giving us time next Monday at 11 am," the CM told reporters late last week according to PTI. 

Tejaswi Yadav & Lalu Prasad Yadav have been demanding a caste-based census for a while now. 

Here's a list of leaders who will be at the meeting today: 

• Nitish Kumar- Chief Minister
• Tejashwi Yadav - RJD
• Vijay Kumar Choudhary - JD(U)
• Janak Ram- BJP
• Ajit Sharma- Congress
• Mehboob Alam - CPI(ML)
• Akhtarul Iman - AIMIM
• Jitan Ram Manjhi - Hindustani Awam Morcha
• Mukesh Sahni - Vikassheel Insaan Party
• Suryakant Paswan- CPI
• Ajay Kumar- CPI(M)

The demand for a caste census was triggered by a statement by the Centre in Parliament last month that populations of only SCs and STs were proposed to be enumerated.

In states like Bihar, where OBCs have dominated politics since the Mandal era, this has led to a vociferous demand for a headcount of backward classes as well. Kumar reiterated that there is a countrywide sentiment in favour of a caste census being conducted at least once. There should be no misgivings as such an exercise will be beneficial for all social groups.

Nitish Kumar was asked whether his government was prepared to conduct a state-specific exercise in the event of the demand getting a cold shoulder from the Centre, a PTI report said.

"We shall decide when the time comes. Let us first see what transpires at the meeting with the PM," Kumar quipped.