Key GoM meeting on caste census Aug. 6
With divisions persisting on inclusion of caste in the Census, a meeting of the Group of Ministers (GoM) on the ticklish issue is expected to finalise its report on August 6.
All political parties have been asked by the GoM’s chairman Pranab Mukherjee to give their views on the matter by that day and it is still unclear as to how many parties have responded so far.
Sources said that the government has asked two questions to the political parties, including whether they are in favour of inclusion of caste in the Census.
“We will see that a caste-based Census will not affect the ongoing national Census,” they said.
The GoM will give its report to the Union Cabinet.
Senior CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury, however, said that his party has not yet been asked to give its views.
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Let states decide, RSS tells BJP
Age correspondent
new delhi
Aug. 3: The BJP, which is under political compulsion to support the caste-based census, is desperately seeking a middle path on the issue.
With the RSS opposed to the issue and a section within the party supporting a caste-based census, the BJP has sought suggestions from the RSS.
The party’s core group is meeting on August 6 to finalise its stand on this issue as the party has to convey its views on caste census to the Centre by August 7.
The RSS, it is learnt, has suggested to the BJP that it should go for a dedicated column to register the caste data and then let the states to segregate the castes according to categories applicable in the individual state.
“For instance, jats may be an OBC in one state but not in another. Therefore, it should be the state government which should decide which caste to be put under which category rather than people just mentioning that they are of a particular caste,” said the senior functionary.
But a section of leaders feel that caste should be listed under OBC, SC or ST categories as it would be more beneficial.
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