The eagerly awaited report of the caste-based census in Bihar was unveiled on Monday (October 2). According to the findings, Bihar's total population stands at over 13 crore. Among this vast populace, the backward class constitutes 27.13%, the extremely backward class accounts for 36.01%, while the general category represents 15.52%. The release of this comprehensive report has triggered a flurry of reactions within the political arena.
Bihar's Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar, took to Twitter to express his sentiments, stating, "Today, on the auspicious occasion of Gandhi Jayanti, the data of the caste-based census conducted in Bihar has been published. Many congratulations to the entire team engaged in the work of caste-based enumeration. The proposal for caste-based enumeration was passed unanimously in the Legislature."
Former Bihar Chief Minister and leader of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Lalu Prasad Yadav, also shared his thoughts on this historic moment, remarking, "Today on Gandhi Jayanti, we all have become witnesses of this historic moment. Despite many conspiracies of BJP, legal hurdles, and all the conspiracies, today the Bihar government released the caste-based survey. These figures will set an example for the country in making holistic planning for proper development and progress of the deprived, neglected, and poor and in giving representation to marginalized groups in proportion to the population."
In response to the report's release, Union Minister Giriraj Singh expressed a contrasting perspective, asserting, "Caste Census will do nothing more than spreading 'bhram' among the poor and public of the state. They should have given a report card that Nitish Kumar ruled the state for 18 years and Lalu Yadav ruled the state for 15 years but did not develop the state. The report card of Caste Census is just an eye wash..."
Former Madhya Pradesh CM and Congress leader Digvijay Singh said if Congress gets in power in the state, a similar survey will be conducted in MP as well.