Tue May 06 04:43:53 UTC 2025: **Congress Demands Nationwide Caste Census Based on Telangana Model**
NEW DELHI, May 6, 2025 – Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to conduct a nationwide caste census, mirroring the model implemented in Telangana. In a letter made public today, Mr. Kharge requested a dialogue with all political parties on the matter and emphasized the need for transparency, ensuring the public release of all socio-economic caste data.
Mr. Kharge’s letter follows a recent Congress Working Committee meeting. He criticized the government’s initial opposition to the census and called for the removal of the 50% reservation ceiling through a constitutional amendment. He also advocated for the inclusion of state reservation laws in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution, citing Tamil Nadu as a precedent.
The Congress leader highlighted the importance of implementing Article 15(5) to enable reservations for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes in private educational institutions, referencing a Parliamentary Standing Committee recommendation supporting this action. He asserted that a caste census is crucial for achieving social and economic justice, rejecting the notion that such an undertaking is divisive. The letter concludes by emphasizing the need for a comprehensive and transparent census to ensure the rights of marginalized communities are protected and their progress accurately measured.
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