Why is BJP Criticizing the Opposition on the Caste Census Notification?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- BJP criticizes Congress for politicizing census.
- Hussain urges careful reading of the notification.
- Caste census to be included in upcoming 16th National Census.
- Timeline set for census activities in 2027.
- Political responses highlight differing views on the census.
New Delhi, June 17 (NationPress) Amidst intense scrutiny from Congress regarding the Centre’s gazette notification on the 16th National Census, BJP National Spokesperson Syed Shahnawaz Hussain criticized the opposition for "needlessly politicizing" the matter and urged them to "read it thoroughly before responding."
“The opposition lacks a constructive agenda. Making baseless statements has become their norm. When the census takes place, the caste census will also be included. The PIB release and the Home Ministry have made this clear, yet they continue to stir controversy. They ought to read the notification properly before reacting,” Hussain told IANS.
The notification from the Ministry of Home Affairs details the timeline for India’s 16th National Census, scheduled to occur in 2027, a full 16 years after the last census was conducted in 2011.
The reference date is set for October 1, 2026, for areas affected by snow, such as Ladakh, while March 1, 2027 is the date for the remainder of the country.
Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav previously expressed skepticism about the motivation behind the notification, questioning the Centre’s genuine commitment to the caste census.
In response, Hussain sharply stated: “On one hand, he calls for a caste census, and when the government acts on it, he claims he doesn't trust it. If he can't trust the Indian government, then who does he trust? What kind of remarks is Akhilesh Yadav making?”
Earlier on Monday, Jairam Ramesh remarked, “It is quite a damp squib and merely reiterates what had been announced on April 30, 2025.”
He added that it was only due to the “persistence and insistence” of the Congress that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was compelled to agree to a caste census, yet noted that the latest notification remains silent on the subject.