PC leaves in a huff over caste
Sources have confirmed that both Union ministers Kapil Sibal and M.S. Gill opposed any move to include caste in the Census.
But Dr M. Veerappa Moily, who has on several occasions spoke his mind favouring such a move, is learnt to have said that caste could easily be included in round two a
nd three of the exercise when work on National Population Register would begin. Mr Mukul Wasnik is also believed to have favoured inclusion of caste in the Census.
A visibly upset home minister P. Chidambaram, who left the Cabinet room in a huff, is learnt to have proposed that the present exercise of enumeration should go on and caste could be included later at the time of taking biometric samples. The sources said that when the officials enquired from him whether he would brief the media or not, Mr Chidambram said, “Nobody asked me to do so.” He then immediately left the Prime Minister’s Office, where the meeting took place, the sources added.
Moreover, several important ministers, including Sharad Pawar, Ambika Soni, Subodhkant Sahay, Alagiri and A. Raja, were not present at the meeting as they were away.
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