Thu May 01 02:20:26 UTC 2025: ## India to Conduct Caste Census: SP Welcomes Decision, Warns Against Manipulation
**Lucknow, India –** The Indian government announced Wednesday that a caste census will be included in the next national census, a move welcomed by opposition parties as a victory for social justice. Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav celebrated the decision as a “100% victory” for the PDA (Pichhda, Dalits, and Alpsankhyak – Backwards, Dalits, and Minorities) coalition, attributing it to their combined pressure on the ruling BJP.
However, Yadav cautioned against manipulation. He stressed that an “honest census” is crucial to ensure each caste receives rights proportional to its population, warning the BJP government against electoral rigging. He expressed hope that this would mark the end of the BJP’s “hegemonic thinking.”
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed the cabinet’s decision, attributing it to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. While the Congress and its allies had opposed the caste census for decades while in power, the decision has now been met with celebratory remarks from a wide array of political figures across the spectrum. Rahul Gandhi, for instance, welcomed the announcement but demanded a clear timeline for its implementation.
The caste census, a significant development in Indian socio-political landscape, is expected to provide crucial data on caste demographics, potentially impacting policies related to social justice and resource allocation. The SP and other opposition parties are closely monitoring the process to ensure its integrity and accuracy.
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