Nitish has agreed to take up with Centre issue of caste census: Tejashwi
Manjil Das, INN/Chennai
Twitter-@SGiggle29 @Infodeaofficial
On July 30, opposition leader Tejashwi Yadav said that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had agreed in principle to discuss the topic of a caste-based census with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Mr. Yadav stated this to reporters after leading a team of leaders from the five-party Grand Alliance led by his Rashtriya Janata Dal into the assembly grounds to meet with the Chief Minister (RJD).
The OBCs, who have dominated Bihar’s political scene since the Mandal panel report was implemented, have renewed their call for inclusion in a caste-based census.
“As we requested a caste-based census, the Chief Minister consented. After a few hours, he stated he would be leaving for Delhi. The Prime Minister will be contacted upon his return on August 2nd, “he stated.
This has been suggested by the former Deputy CM, who has suggested that a delegation led by the Chief Minister meet with the PM to discuss the issue.
Mr. Kumar, who identifies as an OBC, has also advocated for a caste-based census and recently urged the Centre to reconsider its position.
A caste-based census has also been supported by both houses of the state legislature in the past.
According to Mr. Yadav, “we also recommended that, in the case that the Centre does not agree to the demand, the state should consider organising such an exercise on its own, as Karnataka did a few years ago.”
This has been suggested by the former Deputy CM, who has suggested that a delegation led by the Chief Minister meet with the PM to discuss the issue.
The OBC-identifying Mr. Kumar also spoke in favour of a caste-based census, and recently encouraged the Centre to change its stance.
A caste-based census has also been supported by both houses of the state legislature in the past.
According to Mr. Yadav, “we also recommended that, in the case that the Centre does not agree to the demand, the state should consider organising such an exercise on its own, as Karnataka did a few years ago.”
“It is a statement that I have not heard first hand. A TMC MP allegedly made a comment that you (journalists) brought to my attention yesterday. He has attempted to deny the words ascribed to him “, said Mr. Yadav, alluding to Mohua Moitra’s contentious statements.
Godda, Jharkhand, BJP Member of Parliament A member of the Parliamentary Committee on Information Technology, Nishikant Dubey, has accused her of calling him “Bihari Goonda” on July 28.
Hindustani Awam Morcha president Jitan Ram Manjhi, Sushil Kumar Modi, and Shahnawaz Hussain have all publicly denounced the alleged disparaging statement.
Upon learning that his father, Lalu Prasad, had been accused of favouring individuals from Bihar during his term as Railway Minister, Mr. Yadav responded with an amusing aside, “Such things shouldn’t be stated, according to the experts.” There is no restriction on where people from all parts of the nation can find jobs or explore possibilities.
