Wed Apr 30 17:23:09 UTC 2025: ## Political Parties Clash Over Credit for Upcoming Caste Census
**New Delhi, April 30, 2025** – The Indian government’s decision to conduct a caste census alongside the upcoming decadal census has sparked a flurry of claims and counter-claims from political parties across the country. Both ruling and opposition parties are vying to take credit for the move, each citing historical precedents to support their claims.
Opposition parties, including the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), are celebrating the decision as a victory, attributing it to their sustained pressure on the government. RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav took to social media, highlighting the RJD’s past advocacy for a caste census and criticizing the BJP for shelving previous attempts. He emphasized the importance of the census for ensuring equitable representation and development for various castes. SP leader Akhilesh Yadav similarly lauded the decision but cautioned against manipulation of the data.
Leaders from the ruling alliance in Bihar, including Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Union Minister Chirag Paswan, also welcomed the announcement. However, Paswan questioned the opposition’s claims, highlighting the lack of action on a caste census during their previous tenures.
The caste census, a highly sensitive issue in India, promises to provide valuable data on the population of different castes, potentially informing policy decisions and resource allocation. The competing narratives surrounding the decision, however, underscore the deeply political nature of the issue and the ongoing battle for political advantage. The debate now shifts to ensuring the integrity and accuracy of the census process itself.
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