Is BJP and Congress in a Heated Debate Over the 'Caste' Census Notification?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Caste Clause in the census is under scrutiny.
- Political tensions are rising between Congress and BJP.
- Calls for transparency from Congress leaders.
- BJP defends its position against claims of historical betrayal.
- Implications of the census could affect social policies significantly.
New Delhi, June 17 (NationPress) Following the Centre's announcement of a two-phase population census, political tensions have escalated between the Congress and BJP regarding allegations that the caste clause was deliberately excluded. Many Congress officials raised concerns about the government's decision to omit the caste clause from the official census notification, questioning the motives behind this action—a claim that BJP leaders vehemently denied.
Ajay Kumar Lallu, a senior Congress figure and Odisha Congress in-charge, expressed skepticism about the government's intentions and called for greater transparency.
“If the government is earnest, why is there a discrepancy between its press releases and the gazette notifications? The caste census is still pending. The Cabinet proposal seems like mere window dressing. We have consistently doubted the BJP-RSS regime's sincerity on this matter,” remarked Lallu.
He also criticized Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for widespread corruption in the state, stating, “UP is the land of Baba Kashi Vishwanath, yet CM Yogi is disseminating falsehoods from this sacred ground.”
Chhattisgarh's Deputy Chief Minister, Arun Sao, responded to the controversy by accusing the Congress of historical betrayal and intentionally spreading misinformation.
In an interview with IANS, Deputy CM Arun Sao stated, “It is a well-documented fact who disrespected Dr. Ambedkar, who plotted against him in elections, and who denied him the Bharat Ratna. These are indisputable realities. The Congress must cease its fabrications.”
He further criticized the opposition for their skepticism regarding the caste census notification. “For 75 years, they have contributed nothing but words. Even now, with the government officially announcing the caste census for 2027, they continue to disseminate rumors and foster confusion. However, the citizens of this country are no longer uninformed,” he added.