Caste enumeration announced with an eye on Bihar elections: Surjewala
Patna: Expressing doubts over the NDA govt’s recent announcement of caste enumeration in the upcoming census, All-India Congress Committee general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala on Monday said the announcement by the Narendra Modi govt is an election stunt of the BJP as neither the date of its commencement was announced nor the deadline to complete it. Surjewala, while talking to reporters in Patna, cited the govt’s official statements in Parliament and shared some affidavits it submitted in the Supreme Court in the past to prove his point. He even said the govt buckled under Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s pressure on this issue. “Congress wants caste census for bringing social changes in society while the BJP-led govt announced it with an eye on Bihar elections scheduled in Oct-Nov. Share in power as per one’s population is not a mere rhetoric for the Congress but the crux of its ideological fight for over a decade,” he said, adding the determination of the party and its leader Rahul Gandhi “shook the foundation of the Modi govt, which announced the caste enumeration along the census.” Surjewala accused the BJP of conspiring against the backward communities in the country. “The UPA govt conducted a caste census in 2011. Its report was presented in July 2015, but the Modi govt did not release it. Since then, the Congress has been struggling determinedly for conducting the caste census,” he said in Patna. Surjewala added the BJP and RSS had publicly denied the idea of the caste census. “While RSS leader Bhaiyyaji Joshi clearly opposed it in 2010, the NDA govt constituted an expert group under Niti Aayog vice-chairman Arvind Panagariya to study the 2011 census report and submit a caste-wise analysis. But, despite the cabinet decision on July 16, 2015, PM Modi and his govt didn’t appoint any member in the ‘expert group’,” Surjewala said, accusing them of throwing the 2011 census report in dustbin and cited an affidavit submitted on Sept 21, 2021, in the apex court to prove his point. The case pertains to the then Maharashtra govt’s petition in the Supreme Court in 2021 against the Centre regarding OBC reservation in panchayats. “The Modi govt strongly opposed it and asserted that it was not appropriate to conduct caste census along with the census. By doing this, all the data of the census itself will get distorted. It is also administratively impossible to collect caste data of backward classes in the census and even if done so, it will neither be complete nor accurate,” Surjewala said, quoting the govt. He added when Bihar decided to conduct caste survey, the Modi govt, in an affidavit in a case on August 28, 2023, rejected the right of the state govt to conduct the caste census. “As an uproar started, the Modi govt filed a new affidavit and removed paragraph 5 from it,” he alleged. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https://timesofindia.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
Union government yet to respond, HC dismisses Rahul Gandhi’s citizenship PIL
LUCKNOW: Allahabad HC’s Lucknow bench declined Monday to spend any more court minutes hearing a PIL challenging Lok Sabha leader of the opposition Rahul Gandhi’s citizenship, saying the petitioner was at liberty to seek alternative legal remedies. Justices AR Masoodi and Rajiv Singh reasoned that since the Union govt was unable to set a timeframe to resolve the petitioner’s complaint, there was no justification in keeping the PIL pending. Petitioner S Vignesh Shishir, a BJP worker from Karnataka, claimed to have acquired documents and emails from the UK govt proving that Rahul was a British citizen and, therefore, ineligible to contest elections and become an MP. India doesn’t allow dual citizenship. In the previous hearing on April 21, the court was told that the Centre had written to the UK govt seeking details about claims that Rahul held British citizenship. The bench gave the Union govt until May 5 to state its response to Shishir’s representation seeking cancellation of Rahul’s election to the Lok Sabha from Rae Bareli last year. The Centre’s counsel told the court that no time limit could be set for this since information from the UK govt was still awaited. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https://timesofindia.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
After US student says many Sajjan Kumars still in Congress fold, Rahul Gandhi says I take responsibility for everything party did wrong
Jalandhar: Seven months after he sought to put BJP in the dock while speaking in the US on the issue of religious freedom in India and cited the example of Sikhs while doing so, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi faced a question from a student in the US about what Sikhs faced during Congress rule in India. The student mentioned that Rahul’s party still had “many more Sajjan Kumars” in its fold. Gandhi, on his part, termed the happenings of the 1980s “wrong” and said he was more than happy to take responsibility for whatever mistakes Congress made in the past. Gandhi held a question-and-answer session during at the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs of Brown University, US, on April 21. A Sikh student was the first to pose a question, referring to Rahul’s earlier remark made at an event in Virginia on Sept 9 last year. Rahul’s conversation was uploaded on YouTube on Saturday, and it attracted a strong reaction from the BJP. Mentioning Rahul’s earlier remark that under BJP rule, the fight was about whether a Sikh would be allowed to wear his turban or a ‘karra’ (metal bangle), the Sikh student said, “You create a fear amongst the Sikhs about what the BJP would look like. But we just don’t want to wear karras, we just don’t want to wear turbans. We want freedom of expression, which under the Congress party in the past, has not been allowed,” he said. He added, “For example, the Anandpur Sahib resolution, which you are probably familiar with, which talks about dalit rights, rights of water; it talks about better working conditions, anti-monopoly. It mentions nothing about separatism, but it is labelled as a separatist document.” “This is something your party has done, and your party seems to lack the maturity to accept the mistakes it has made, such as Sajjan Kumar just now being tried. There are many more Sajjan Kumars sitting in the Congress party. KPS Gill is hailed as a hero,” he said. Then came his real question: “You tell us to fear what India will look like under the BJP, but you’ve never tried to reconcile with the Sikhs. What attempts are you making? Because if you continue like this, BJP is also going to make its way to Punjab.” Rahul replied, “First of all, I don’t think that really anything scares the Sikhs. That is the first point. The statement I made was that: look, do we want an India where people are uncomfortable to express their religion? As far as the mistakes of the Congress party are concerned, a lot of those mistakes happened when I was not there. But I am more than happy to take responsibility for everything that the Congress party has ever done wrong in its history.” When the Sikh student again asked what he had done to reconcile with the Sikhs, the Congress leader added: “I have publicly stated that what happened in the ’80s was wrong. I have been to the Golden Temple multiple times, I have an extremely good relationship with the Sikh community in India and a loving relationship with them.” Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https://timesofindia.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
End of caste politics of Lalu and Gandhi family! Big disclosure by BJP leader, explained political mathematics
Bihar Politics: The NRI cell of Bharatiya Janata Party has welcomed the decision of caste census. Manish Sinha said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is realizing the dream of social justice. This decision will formulate policies for the welfare of all sections. This decision will expose the pretentious sympathy of Congress. Patna: The convener of BJP NRI cell has welcomed the decision of the central government to conduct caste census. He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is fulfilling the dream of social justice. This decision will help in making policies for the development of all sections of the society. Manish Sinha also said that this will expose the false sympathy of Congress towards the backward class and end caste politics. Manish Sinha belongs to the family of the country’s first President Rajendra Prasad. Praise of PM Modi He said that with this announcement of the PM, the story of caste politics of leaders like Rahul Gandhi and Lalu Yadav will end completely. Prime Minister Modi has worked to realize the dreams of social inclusion of Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia, BP Mandal and Karpoori Thakur. He said that the Congress party has always been pretending with the people of backward classes. Now the caste census will reveal how much benefit each caste has received from reservation. It will also reveal which castes have lagged behind in the race of development. Welcoming the caste census Sinha further said that having caste census along with the general census will end the caste-based politics of Congress. This decision will help in making better policies for the development of all sections of the society. This is an important step towards social equality and development. BJP NRI Cell thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Central Government for this decision. He said that they will fully cooperate in this effort of social justice. About the author Ashutosh Kumar Pandey Active in print, digital and electronic journalism for more than 16 years. Degree in Political Science and Journalism. Started writing in Jansatta, Hindustan and Dainik Jagran in 2003. Worked in ETV, Maurya TV, Focus TV, Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Prabhat Khabar.com and Network 18. Reporting work in four Lok Sabha elections and many assembly elections. Courtesy: Ashutosh Kumar Pandey, NBT, Hindi News Note: This news is originally published on https://timesofindiahindinews.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
Urgent need to safeguard the Constitution: Cong
Chandigarh: Chandigarh Congress on Sunday organised two Samvidhan Sabha events at Sector 32 and Indira Colony, Manimajra. These gatherings were a part of the party’s nationwide initiative to uphold constitutional values and advocate for inclusive governance. Senior Congress leader and Chandigarh MP Manish Tewari along with Chandigarh Pradesh Congress Committee president H S Lucky, addressed large gatherings at both venues. The leaders emphasized the urgent need to safeguard the Constitution from systemic erosion and reaffirmed the party’s unwavering commitment to social justice and equality. Speaking at Sector 32, Manish Tewari said, “The Constitution is the soul of our democracy. Any attempt to dilute its foundational principles is a direct attack on the very spirit of India. It is the Congress, under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi, that is relentlessly working to ensure that the rights of every citizen—particularly the marginalized—are protected and advanced.” He also highlighted the party’s recent push for a caste-based census, calling it a “historic corrective measure” that will help create data-driven policies for equitable distribution of resources. Addressing the gathering at Indira Colony, Lucky reiterated the importance of community awareness and grassroots mobilization. “The Samvidhan Sabha is a reminder to every Indian of their rights and duties. Rahul Gandhi’s stand on the caste census shows our party’s clarity of vision and commitment to transparency, representation, and justice for all sections of society.” Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https://timesofindia.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
Rahul Gandhi ridiculed globally too, says BJP on student quizzing him on 1984 riot
NEW DELHI: BJP on Sunday lauded the Sikh student who questioned Rahul Gandhi over the massacre of Sikhs in 1984 and said it was telling that the Congress leader was being “ridiculed not just in India, but around the world”. The student asked Rahul what attempts he was making to reconcile with the Sikh community and referred to the 1984 riots in his lengthy poser when the Congress MP was having an interaction session with students at Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs at Brown University in the US on April 21. The video of the interaction was uploaded on Saturday on the Watson Institute’s YouTube channel. BJP’s IT cell chief Amit Malviya shared a snippet of the video and said the student had directly reminded Rahul of the “unfounded fear-mongering” he had done about Sikh identity under BJP rule. Questioning Rahul’s previous remarks on religious freedom under BJP rule, the Sikh student said, “You create fear among Sikhs about what BJP would look like. We want freedom of expression, which has not been allowed under the Congress in the past.” The student also referred to the Anandpur Sahib resolution, which he claimed the Congress mis-characterized as a separatist manifesto. He criticized the party’s failure to reconcile with the Sikh community and pointed to convicted former Congress leader Sajjan Kumar as evidence of lingering impunity, and said, “Many more Sajjan Kumars are sitting in Congress party.” In response, Rahul admitted that Congress had committed many “mistakes” when he was not there, but added that he was more than happy to take responsibility for everything the party had ever done wrong. He pointed out that he had publicly stated that what happened in the 1980s was “wrong”. BJP also attacked Rahul for calling Lord Ram “a mythological figure” at the same interaction. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https://timesofindia.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
Caste census: Congress targets BJP with Supreme Court affidavit, Parliament reply
NEW DELHI: Even as Congress claims PM Narendra Modi buckled under its pressure to reverse his earlier decision on enumerating caste, the party Sunday added a twist by releasing a 2021 govt answer in Parliament in which it had stated that it will not conduct a caste census in 2021 as a policy decision, and also quoting a Centre’s affidavit beseeching Supreme Court not to order a caste census against the govt policy. The opposition party asked the PM if he will accept that he has taken a U-turn on the issue. To amplify its attacks on BJP, Congress has directed its state units to hold statewide rallies at the assembly level to showcase the role of Congress and Rahul Gandhi in making caste census a reality, with the directive that they should highlight that BJP has been against the idea. The party also asked its netas to intensify the demand for removal of 50% barrier on reservations and for implementation of quotas in private educational institutions. Home ministry told Lok Sabha on July 20, 2021, that govt had taken a policy decision not to enumerate caste in the census. Also, as per Congress, PM Modi government told SC on Sept 21, 2021: “The exclusion of information regarding any other caste [outside of SCs and STs] from the purview of census [2021] is a conscious policy decision taken by the central govt.” Congress spokesman Jairam Ramesh said, “Evidence abounds on Modi’s sudden, complete, and desperate U-turn on the caste census… Will he explain to the people and Parliament the reasons for the change in govt’s policy?” Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https://timesofindia.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
‘My brother took up cause’: Priyanka Gandhi says government ‘pressured’ for caste census
NEW DELHI: Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Sunday, while welcoming said that the central government agreed to include caste enumeration in the upcoming census due to pressure. While speaking to the media in Wayanad, Kerala, she said that her brother Rahul Gandhi had raised this issue in Parliament and was mocked for it. “The government has been pressured. My brother took up this cause last year. He has been saying it again and again; the entire BJP was against it. BJP ministers, the Prime Minister himself. When my brother spoke in Parliament, he was also ridiculed by them for speaking in favour of this,” Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said. — priyankagandhi (@priyankagandhi) “I feel that now they have come under pressure because everybody, the whole country, realises that this is a necessity. It is needed now, and I’m glad they have come under pressure. I am happy that they have announced something. I hope that whatever they do, they do it in a proper fashion, in the proper way, so that the correct facts come out,” she added. Earlier in the day, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling the government’s change in position on the caste census a “sudden and desperate U-turn”. In a post on social media, Ramesh pointed out that the Modi government had earlier opposed a caste-based census. He cited three examples to show how the government’s position has changed. In April 2024, during a television interview, Prime Minister Modi had called those demanding a caste census “urban naxals”. — Jairam_Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) The Cabinet committee on political affairs, led by Prime Minister Modi, decided last week to include caste enumeration in the upcoming census. After the cabinet meeting, information and broadcasting minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told the media that this decision shows the government’s commitment to the nation’s overall interests. At the same time, the Congress party passed a resolution asking for the immediate implementation of clause 5 of Article 15 of the Constitution to allow reservations for Other Backward Classes (OBCs), Dalits, and Adivasis in private educational institutions. The resolution also said that updated caste data should be used to strengthen reservation policies. Clause 5 of Article 15 allows the government to make special provisions for the progress of socially and educationally backward classes or for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, including in private educational institutions. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https://timesofindia.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
Article 15(5) in focus: Congress demands immediate implementation of reservations for OBC, Dalit, Adivasi in private institutions
NEW DELHI: The Congress Working Committee (CWC) has ramped up its demand for the immediate implementation of the legislation, alongside Article 15(5) to extend reservation to OBCs, Dalits, and Adivasis in private educational institutions. In a directive issued on Friday, AICC General Secretary (Organisation) K.C Venugopal detailed the Congress party’s roadmap to ensure that the caste census is not delayed under any bureaucratic pretext. The instructions are part of the party’s campaign during the ongoing Samvidhan Bachao rallies, which will continue till May 30 across all states and districts. Venugopal noted that this legislative step is a result of “sustained and principled pressure” by the Congress, with party president Mallikarjun Kharge having formally written to the Prime Minister reiterating the demand. Rahul Gandhi, he said, had been the most consistent voice advocating the caste census as a prerequisite for ensuring true social justice. CWC’s key demands: Immediate implementation of Article 15(5) to extend reservation for OBCs, Dalits, and Adivasis in private educational institutions. Timely and transparent rollout of the caste census, without bureaucratic delays. Time-bound execution with immediate parliamentary debate and full budgetary backing. Inclusive design of the enumeration process, with transparency in questionnaire framing, classification, and data release. Use of the caste data to improve reservation policies, education access, employment schemes, and targeted welfare programs. At its May 2 meeting chaired by Kharge, the CWC also adopted a resolution demanding accountability and urgency in implementing the newly passed caste census legislation. The resolution underscored the need for mobilising people at the grassroots to support the move. Caste census In a significant reversal of its earlier stance, the Centre on April 30 announced that a nationwide caste-based count will be carried out alongside the upcoming population census. The move marks a major policy shift after years of rejecting opposition demands for such an enumeration. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, while announcing the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs’ decision, said the Centre had taken note of the caste-based surveys recently conducted by several opposition-ruled states. These state-level efforts, he claimed, were politically motivated and lacked transparency, leading to confusion and mistrust in society. “Census is a constitutional responsibility of the Union government. However, some states have attempted caste enumeration through surveys that were neither consistent nor transparent,” Vaishnaw said. To avoid further division and politicisation, the government has decided to formally include caste data collection in the national census to ensure accuracy and maintain social harmony, he added. Courtesy: Times of India Note: This news is originally published on https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
Caste census is our priority, it’s RaGa’s victory: Cong
Bhopal: Presidents of Congress Scheduled Caste Cell and Scheduled Tribe Dept on Friday described the announcement of caste census a “historic step” towards social justice and inclusive development. In a joint press conference, Scheduled Caste Cell chief Pradeep Ahirwar and Scheduled Tribe Dept chief Ramu Tekam reiterated the party’s commitment to the caste census, and said without caste data, schemes will remain “incomplete and biased”. On Wednesday, the Centre announced to conduct the caste census. Ahirwar and Tekam said the caste census issue raised by Lok Sabha LOP Rahul Gandhi has received support at the national level. “Dalits, backward classes, and tribal society are now aware of their rights. The Modi govt is procrastinating on this issue, which is further increasing social inequality,” Ahirwar said. Addressing the media, Ahirwar said, “The caste census will prove to be a milestone in the direction of social justice and an egalitarian society.” Tekam said, “Caste census is Rahul Gandhi’s victory. We support it, but the central govt should give a clear timeline as to when it will be done. The Telangana govt has presented an excellent model for this. Now the time has come to break the limit of 50% reservation.” The party’s state OBC cell president Pawan Patel said: “This is the victory of Rahul Gandhi’s tireless efforts. Just as Mahatma Gandhi liberated the country, in the same way, Rahul Gandhi will liberate the country from the policies of BJP.” The state Congress’ minority cell member, Wasim Qureshi, said: “The caste census is the voice not only of OBC, SC, and ST, but of every marginalised community in the entire country. This is the foundation stone of social justice, and the Congress stands strongly for it.” Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https://timesofindia.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.