Fri Jul 18 00:11:00 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the initial text and a rewritten news article based on it:

**Summary:**

This text presents several news publication options and an article detailing Ashok Gehlot, a senior Congress leader and former Rajasthan Chief Minister, advocating for a national caste census. He believes it will address the widening gap between the rich and poor, aid policymaking, and bring marginalized communities into the mainstream. He also suggests the OBC communities have been misled by the BJP and expresses concern that the current government may delay the census after the Bihar election.

**News Article:**

**Gehlot Champions Caste Census to Bridge Inequality Gap**

**Jaipur, India – July 18, 2025** – Senior Congress leader and former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has renewed his call for a national caste census, arguing that it is crucial to addressing the growing disparity between the rich and the poor. Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Gehlot emphasized that the census would provide valuable data for informed policymaking and help integrate Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC) into the mainstream.

“This is a revolutionary thinking of Mr. Gandhi,” Gehlot stated, referring to Rahul Gandhi’s advocacy for the census. “Like a family member, each section of the society needs to help out the other.” He also clarified that the census is not directed against general castes, acknowledging that poverty affects all communities.

Gehlot expressed concern that the OBC communities have been “misled by the Bharatiya Janata Party in the name of religion” and urged them to recognize the importance of a caste census. He further voiced apprehension that the current government might delay the implementation of the census, even after its decision to proceed, potentially citing the upcoming Bihar Assembly election as a reason. “We want the decision on caste census to be implemented,” Gehlot insisted. He believes a socio-economic survey should also be implemented to help guide future policy making in India. The former CM said the members of the OBC communities, “misled by Bharatiya Janata Party in the name of religion”, would realise at a later stage the significance of the movement for caste census.

The push for a caste census has become a significant point of contention in Indian politics, with proponents arguing for its necessity in ensuring social justice and equitable resource allocation.

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