New Delhi, June 17
Senior Congress leader Sachin Pilot has strongly criticised the BJP-led Union government for its alleged reluctance and delay in conducting a caste-based census in the country, calling it a deliberate attempt to evade a long-standing demand rooted in social justice and inclusive policy-making.
Addressing a Press conference at the party headquarters in New Delhi on Tuesday, Pilot emphasised that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi who is the Leader of Opposition as well, has consistently pushed for a comprehensive caste census, raising the issue in Parliament and at various public forums.
“Rahul Gandhi called it an ‘X-ray of the nation’ — necessary to know the exact population of every caste, their geographic distribution, and the social, economic, and educational conditions they live in,” Pilot said.
He stressed that without credible caste data, policies aimed at uplifting marginalised communities remain half-baked.
“The Centre and states lack updated, specific data on caste groups. A caste census helps assess whether communities are benefiting from government schemes or not. It shows where we have succeeded and where we have failed,” he added.