Sitharaman Slams DMK For Claiming Credit On Caste Census, Accuses Party Of Politicisation

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated that the Union Cabinet had cleared the proposal for caste enumeration as part of the broader census exercise.

Finance Minister also responded to ongoing allegations that the Centre favours corporate entities.

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Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday took a sharp dig at the DMK-led Tamil Nadu government for claiming credit over the Centre’s decision to include caste-based data in the upcoming national census. She accused the state leadership of politicising the move, which she said is aimed at enhancing welfare delivery to marginalised communities.

'DMK Should Drop The Argument': Nirmala Sitharaman 

Speaking at a press interaction, Sitharaman stated that the Union Cabinet had cleared the proposal for caste enumeration as part of the broader census exercise. "They say that some of the states are backward in North India. But even in such states, these kinds of incidents have not happened. So, DMK should drop the argument that they have tasted victory for the Centre's decision to include caste enumeration in the forthcoming census exercise," Sitharaman said, as per PTI.

Referring to a disturbing incident in Pudukkottai district where human feces was allegedly mixed into a Scheduled Caste locality’s drinking water supply, Sitharaman questioned Tamil Nadu’s moral high ground. 

The Minister also responded to ongoing allegations that the Centre favours corporate entities. She pointed to the recent inauguration of Vizhinjam Port by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, noting that the Adani Group's involvement stemmed from decisions made by a previous Congress-led Kerala government. 

Addressing criticism over central fund allocations, Sitharaman insisted that Tamil Nadu has consistently received its due. She revealed that a DMK MP privately thanked her for funds disbursed under MGNREGA, while publicly accusing the Centre of withholding assistance. 

On the issue of GST, she reminded that it is a collective framework, replacing a complex web of previous taxes, and that the GST Council — comprising representatives from all states — governs its implementation.