Is the Congress Party Ready to Push for Caste Enumeration at the OBC Meet in Bengaluru?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- The OBC meeting is crucial for uniting communities.
- There is a strong call for caste enumeration.
- Political leaders are emphasizing the importance of representation.
- The Congress party seeks to position itself as a champion for OBC rights.
- Concerns over delays in the national census are prominent.
Bengaluru, July 15 (NationPress) The Other Backward Communities (OBC) Advisory Committee meeting convened by the All India Congress Committee (AICC) commenced in Bengaluru on Tuesday evening at Indira Bhavan, which is part of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) headquarters.
Among those in attendance are Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister and State Congress President D.K. Shivakumar, former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, AICC OBC Cell Chief Anil Jaihind, and various Congress representatives from all over India for this two-day event.
Former Karnataka Chief Minister and Union Minister M. Veerappa Moily addressed the media prior to the meeting, stating, "Now is the opportune moment for the Congress party, as the primary opposition, to advocate for the Central government to accelerate the caste enumeration process."
"We are currently discussing actionable measures. Our focus will also include how to advocate for caste enumeration alongside the national census. The necessary steps will be a key part of our discussions," Moily elaborated.
He further remarked, "The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, has been vocal about the importance of caste enumeration in conjunction with the national census. However, the NDA and the Prime Minister have asserted that such an initiative is unfeasible, claiming it would lead to national division."
Moily noted that the NDA government has previously indicated to the Supreme Court that it cannot execute caste enumeration during the national census.
"They have already postponed the national census, which was scheduled for 2021. Now, in 2025, no progress has been made. Therefore, the Congress party must initiate a campaign," he emphasized.
This meeting, facilitated by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, is scheduled for July 15 and 16, with the objective of unifying OBC communities nationwide in their support for the Congress party.